9 Temples to Heaven

When 63-year-old Sakol receives a disturbing prophecy from a fortune teller regarding his elderly mother, he conscripts his entire family into a daylong pilgrimage. Piling into a van and journeying to nine different Buddhist temples, he hopes to heal the ailing matriarch and reverse the negative karma by offering tribute to local monks. Sakol’s mother’s engagement in the ritual proceedings, however, toggles between sleepy disinterest and mild irritation.

Adopting a meditative tone that’s as concerned with the everyday as it is with the architectural splendor of Thailand’s great temples, director Sompot Chidgasornpongse tracks his charming cast as they playfully bicker throughout their Buddhist rite of passage. Featuring a winning ensemble of actors and an eye for naturalistic detail, the film contemplates mortality, tradition, and spirituality with a light touch.