A boy who is believed to bring bad luck to everyone around him leads his family and two new friends through Laos to find a new home. After a calamity-filled journey through a land scarred by the legacy of war, to prove he's not bad luck he builds a giant rocket to enter the most exciting and dangerous competition of the year: the Rocket Festival.
This is no tourist’s eye view but one that sees the world through the eyes of a child, in a quietly telling way.
A stirring, lushly-constructed celebration of youthful spirit.
Written and directed by Australian Kim Mordaunt it’s a simple but charming, affecting and thought-provoking story, rich in atmosphere and local history, and beautifully acted by its young leads.
A Lao-brow fable that resonates richly with the realities of globalisation.
Politics come second to a warm, evocative portrait of the country’s people and culture.
A sweet-natured if low-key film.
The Rocket is an almost old fashioned film about family, friendship and overcoming obstacles which is probably what makes it so enjoyable. Smart cynicism can be fun, but childlike hope and the ties that bind still have charms of their own.
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness from Friday April 4, 2014, until Thursday April 10, 2014. More info: www.eden-court.co.uk
Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Monday April 14, 2014, until Sunday April 20, 2014. More info: www.filmhousecinema.com
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