9 Temples to Heaven

In Thailand, some Buddhists believe that you can improve your karma by visiting nine temples in a single day. When the businessman Sakol hears from a clairvoyant that his mother is about to die, he doesn’t hesitate for a second. He piles into a minibus with three generations of his family. It soon becomes clear that his mother is the least enthusiastic about this pilgrimage. What begins as an attempt to secure prosperity and protection develops into a subtle exploration of family ties and the search for meaning in a changing society. 9 Temples to Heaven is the feature film debut of Sompot Chidgasornpongse, the former assistant to Palme d’Or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Although more down-to-earth than Weerasethakul’s work, 9 Temples to Heaven does contain some echoes of his style. Nevertheless, this contemplative road movie, which playfully asks what faith still means today, is much more than a mere imitation of the master.