The Rocket (2013)
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The Rocket Movie Review
The Rocket is a 2013 Laotian family drama film directed by Kim Mordaunt and starring Sitthiphon Disamoe in the main role. It’s an endearing, but clichéd flick.
After his Laotian village is leveled to make way for a dam, a 10-year-old boy leads his family and two new friends on a perilous journey to find a new home, then enters a rocket festival to prove he’s not bad luck. Technically, this movie was made by an Australian director, but the crew and the setting is entirely Laotian, so I personally count it as belonging to the cinema of Laos itself.
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The story itself is rather predictable and tiresome, especially its very emotionally manipulative third act. This section of the film was simply too standard in my opinion, reminiscent of so many family-friendly Hollywood flicks from the past that are meant to shamelessly tug on audiences’ heartstrings.
Still, the first half itself is excellent. The beginning is quite heartbreaking and the movie’s adventurous feel is quite commendable throughout. The authenticity of its setting, people and culture also made for a truly unique movie as we rarely see this country portrayed properly in cinema, so this movie is groundbreaking in that regard.
Sitthiphon Disamoe delivered a stupendous performance in the main role and he certainly ranks among the better child actors that we’ve got in recent memory. This protagonist is plucky, endearing and quite likable as well as memorable. I wished for better characterization for all the other people in the village, but at least the kids themselves were quite well portrayed.
The Rocket is also very well made across the board. The directing is solid, the pacing is also fine and the cinematography is actually terrific as the movie looks very polished and even artistic in some quite astounding set pieces and arresting imagery. The score and the production design are both excellent as well. I did wish for better dialogue and more thematic resonance, but at least it is a fun enough movie for the whole family to enjoy and a very good introduction to the country of Laos and its traditions.
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