THE ROCKET
****
Director: Kim Mordaunt
Screenwriter: Kim Mordaunt
Principal cast:
Sitthiphon Disamoe
Loungnam Kaosainam
Thep Phongam
Bunsri Yindi
Alice Keohavongas
Sumrit Warin
Country: Australia/Thailand/Laos
Classification: M
Runtime: 98 mins.
Australian release date: 29 August 2013
The Rocket, directed by Kim Mordaunt (whose documentary Bomb Harvest received a standing ovation when it screened at the Sydney Film Festival, in 2007) is a little gem. It won a number of awards at the Berlin and Tribeca Film Festivals and, more recently, won the Audience Award at this year’s SFF - strong praise indeed!
Set against the backdrop of war-ravaged Laos, the film brings a little-known ritual to a world-wide audience. It also launches the career of the young Sitthiphon Disamoe, who plays Ahlo, a young boy who has to fight for his and his family’s existence. Ahlo is a surviving twin, which causes a great deal of anxiety for his superstitious grandmother, Taitok (Bunsri Yindi). She blames him for bringing bad luck to the family and a series of unfortunate events only serves to compound her suspicions - one, in particular, causes the family, together with Ahlo’s new-found friend Kia (Loungnam Kaosainam), and her eccentric uncle Purple (Thep Phongam), to set off across Laos to find a new home. Eventually arriving at a not very welcoming village, Ahlo sees an opportunity to change his grandmother’s mind… and his family’s fate. The annual Rocket Festival is being held to encourage the onset of the monsoon rains, and the builder of the highest-flying rocket will win a lucrative prize.
Disamone’s performance is utterly convincing - he exudes a charisma on screen that is quite extraordinary. Mordaunt has said that he knew they had the right actor for the part as soon as he met the young boy because he came from a life lived on the streets that gave him “resilience, resourcefulness and a ‘go get’ attitude to never give up.” And, it is this strength of character, that has helped him deal with the harsh and emotional moments in his life.
The supporting roles are also magnificent, including the very watchable Loungnam Kaosainam and Thep Phongam, who has over 35 years of experience as one of the most popular screen actors in Thailand. His channelling of James Brown is one of the film’s many high points. Credit must also go to Bunsri Yindi, the fierce grandmother, and Ahlo’s parents, played by Sumrit Warin (Toma) as the father and Alice Keohavongas (Mali), as the mother. Shot in beautiful Laotian locations, enhanced with excellent cinematography by Andrew Commis. The Rocket is a riot of colour and action. But it is the intensity of Mordaunt’s gripping, and at times heartbreaking script, that makes this a spellbinding 96 minutes. Don’t miss this Aussie/Asian treat.
Screenwriter: Kim Mordaunt
Principal cast:
Sitthiphon Disamoe
Loungnam Kaosainam
Thep Phongam
Bunsri Yindi
Alice Keohavongas
Sumrit Warin
Country: Australia/Thailand/Laos
Classification: M
Runtime: 98 mins.
Australian release date: 29 August 2013
The Rocket, directed by Kim Mordaunt (whose documentary Bomb Harvest received a standing ovation when it screened at the Sydney Film Festival, in 2007) is a little gem. It won a number of awards at the Berlin and Tribeca Film Festivals and, more recently, won the Audience Award at this year’s SFF - strong praise indeed!
Set against the backdrop of war-ravaged Laos, the film brings a little-known ritual to a world-wide audience. It also launches the career of the young Sitthiphon Disamoe, who plays Ahlo, a young boy who has to fight for his and his family’s existence. Ahlo is a surviving twin, which causes a great deal of anxiety for his superstitious grandmother, Taitok (Bunsri Yindi). She blames him for bringing bad luck to the family and a series of unfortunate events only serves to compound her suspicions - one, in particular, causes the family, together with Ahlo’s new-found friend Kia (Loungnam Kaosainam), and her eccentric uncle Purple (Thep Phongam), to set off across Laos to find a new home. Eventually arriving at a not very welcoming village, Ahlo sees an opportunity to change his grandmother’s mind… and his family’s fate. The annual Rocket Festival is being held to encourage the onset of the monsoon rains, and the builder of the highest-flying rocket will win a lucrative prize.
Disamone’s performance is utterly convincing - he exudes a charisma on screen that is quite extraordinary. Mordaunt has said that he knew they had the right actor for the part as soon as he met the young boy because he came from a life lived on the streets that gave him “resilience, resourcefulness and a ‘go get’ attitude to never give up.” And, it is this strength of character, that has helped him deal with the harsh and emotional moments in his life.
The supporting roles are also magnificent, including the very watchable Loungnam Kaosainam and Thep Phongam, who has over 35 years of experience as one of the most popular screen actors in Thailand. His channelling of James Brown is one of the film’s many high points. Credit must also go to Bunsri Yindi, the fierce grandmother, and Ahlo’s parents, played by Sumrit Warin (Toma) as the father and Alice Keohavongas (Mali), as the mother. Shot in beautiful Laotian locations, enhanced with excellent cinematography by Andrew Commis. The Rocket is a riot of colour and action. But it is the intensity of Mordaunt’s gripping, and at times heartbreaking script, that makes this a spellbinding 96 minutes. Don’t miss this Aussie/Asian treat.