The Rocket - A Film Set in Laos

Last week our Bristol based InsideVietnam and InsideJapan teams finished their day early and headed out to the Watershed cinema to watch the Australian film, "The Rocket" set in Laos.

The Rocket Poster

The film follows the story of a young boy, Mali, as he grows up in Northern Laos. The boy is believed to be cursed and is blamed for all that goes wrong in the family. Due to a massive dam being built to generate hydro-electricity the family is forced to relocate, with the promise of a better life in a new village; which turns out to be a squalid shanty town. After a series of calamities the family must move on again, this time with a couple of local misfits and together they set off to look for another new home. The film is beautifully shot, displaying wonderful images across the Laotian mountains and of its people. The film highlights the sensitive issue of relocation in Laos, and because of this the film has been banned from screening in Laos itself.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9DXqqLkQjI]

The film is incredibly moving and shows how the war and the massive number of bombs and landmines which litter the country still affect local communities and the landscapes there. The informative story is both touching and light-hearted and is a film IVT highly recommend.

The Rocket has screened at more than 30 international festivals, winning a batch of awards, and is Australia's entry for the best foreign language Oscar. It is hoped that the film will eventually be seen in Laos despite the ban.

Laos countryside

When the film finished somebody asked us 'does Laos really look like that?', and yes it does! The whole country is beautiful. Made up mostly of jungle covered mountains, mighty rivers and remote villages, Laos is a place like nowhere else in Asia.

The film is definitely worth a watch, and Laos definitely worth a visit!