Thai Film '9 Temples to Heaven' Heads to Oscars
Thai drama '9 Temples to Heaven' has been selected as Thailand's official Oscar submission after winning top awards at Cannes, Shanghai, and New Zealand film festivals. The film follows a family's one-day pilgrimage to nine temples to save
The film officially opens in Thai cinemas on September 17. '9 Temples to Heaven' follows a family's one-day pilgrimage to nine temples to dispel misfortune and extend the life of the grandmother, who is said to have only two weeks to live. Despite their differing beliefs and ages, all nine family members—the grandmother, her two sons, daughter, daughter-in-law, two grandsons, granddaughter, and a grandson's girlfriend—set out to make merit across all nine temples in a single day. As their merit accumulates with each temple, however, the grandmother grows increasingly physically and emotionally exhausted.
The film premiered at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in May's Director's Fortnight and has since won Best Director and Best Actor (Somchai Thongkamphol) at the Shanghai International Film Festival, and Best Film at the New Zealand International Film Festival. It opened the Bangkok International Film Festival on September 13 and has been selected as Thailand's official submission for Best International Feature at the 99th Academy Awards.
Director Sompot Chitketkaset, who previously made the documentary 'Pillow Train' in 2016, drew inspiration from his own family temple visits. He observed how beliefs and thinking differ across ages and changing times. The film presents aspects of Thai life that locals know well, and the director expressed joy that '9 Temples to Heaven' has returned home to screen for Thai audiences, believing many will connect deeply with its story.
