9 Temples to Heaven

"A delicate metaphor for political, generational and social diversity in modern Thailand."

"Sompot Chidgasornpongse’s title balances ritual, memory and familial tensions with a light touch "

"The concepts of family bonds, acceptance of difference and mortality prove universal."

"An unusual blend of family comedy and spiritual drama."

"With a generous offering—and in the hands of a gifted filmmaker and a great cinematographer—cinema can perform more miracles than most religions."

"Realism at its finest...arguably one of the year's finest entries."

"A smooth-sailing study of death, Buddhism, and the philosophical questions that surround them, director Sompot Chidgasornpongse’s 9 Temples to Heaven delivers a cinematic nirvana on the Croisette this year."

"A highly unusual family-oriented road movie which is as sharp as a razor, as light as a feather, and which takes place on a very special day."

"9 Temples to Heaven is too irresistibly unique."

"Scenes unfurl naturalistically, the camera like an additional family member observing this family's journey."

"It is a fascinating exercise in filmmaking that constantly makes the viewer aware that they're watching a whole world in action and not just a group of people."

"The entire story unfolds across a single day, yet it carries the density of years of unresolved family history."

"Chidgasornpongse's script remains deeply rooted in human emotion, weakness and vulnerability."

"An excellent example of contemporary Thai cinema, particularly in its close connection to spirituality and its compassionate depiction of human nature and universal values."