Australia, 100mins
The Rocket is a beautiful story of a small boy, Ahlo (Sitthiphon Disamoe), and his family in Laos, displaced due to a dam building project. Ahlo’s grandmother believes he is bad luck, and when tragedy strikes, it seems the bad luck is coming true. But with the help of his new friend, Kia (Loungnam Kaosainam) and her uncle (Thep Phongam), a James Brown impersonator, Ahlo wants to win a rocket contest to save his family.
There was a very long set-up to the final showdown, however when you are being entertained by such delightful characters in such beautiful settings. Plus, it is not afraid to show the darker side to life in Laos – leftover bombs and landmines, industry taking land from the poor but not coming through with the promises.
The Rocket screens at AMCI on Thursday, August 8th at 6:30pm and at Greater Union on Saturday, August 10th at 1:30pm
ireckonthat 