Buoyancy

Name: Buoyancy
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: September 11, 2020
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Chan Visal, Chheung Vakhim, Mony Ros, Phouen Nisa, Saichia Wongwirot

2020

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Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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Buoyancy (US Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

Kino Lorber | Release Date (Streaming): September 11, 2020 | Not Rated

Starring: Chan Visal, Chheung Vakhim, Mony Ros, Phouen Nisa, Saichia Wongwirot, Sareoun Sopheara, Sarm Heng, Terb Sophon, Thanawut Ketsaro, Yothin Udomsanti

Summary: Spirited 14-year-old Chakra works the rice fields with his family. He yearns for independence and seeks out a local broker who can get him paid work in a Thai factory. Without telling his family, Chakra travels to Bangkok to make his fortune. But when he gets there, he and his new friend Kea realize the broker has lied to them. Along withSpirited 14-year-old Chakra works the rice fields with his family. He yearns for independence and seeks out a local broker who can get him paid work in a Thai factory. Without telling his family, Chakra travels to Bangkok to make his fortune. But when he gets there, he and his new friend Kea realize the broker has lied to them. Along with other Cambodians and Burmese, they are sold to a fishing captain as slaves.… Expand

Director: Rodd Rathjen

Genre(s): Drama, Crime

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 93 min

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Critic Reviews

Alex Saveliev

Sep 13, 2020

A grueling affair, purposefully so, bringing to mind Steve McQueen’s similarly relentless 12 Years a Slave. There’s not much respite to be found in those bloodied waters, nary a buoy to grasp. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Sep 10, 2020

There is evil and it helps keep the world running, our clothes and food coming. This is the greatest, most difficult, most unspeakable violence laid bare in Rathjen’s measured, insistently political movie. Read full review

Deborah Young

Sep 10, 2020

Though grippingly shot and paced, its realism makes it not an easy watch. However, one never questions the horrific circumstances in which the protag finds himself and the ending provides a bitter sort of closure and enough salve on the wounds to make the story palatable. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Sep 10, 2020

The detail, the worn-out wooden boat that is the main location, is perfect. And the calming effect of the sea is utterly spoiled by the tension that’s always there. Daily routine aside, every encounter with the pitiless crew is fraught with peril, and the violence when it comes — is shocking, primitive and sadistic. Read full review

K. Austin Collins

Oct 8, 2020

It grows thrilling to watch. Rathjen’s careful script and intensive eye for environmental details deliver all of this to us with a steady rhythm. Read full review

Jessica Kiang

Sep 10, 2020

In doing justice to the stories of thousands, Rathjen has somewhat undersold the personal story of its single protagonist. Read full review

Derek Smith

The film never quite pushes beyond the archetypal nature of its scenario to fully unearth its characters’ psychological turmoil. Read full review

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Brent_Marchant

Sep 23, 2020

With its heart decidedly in the right place, this socially conscious Australian offering shines an exceedingly bright light on the plight of Southeast Asian men and boys who are willfully deceived and ostensibly sold into slavery aboard Thai fishing boats, forced to work under deplorableWith its heart decidedly in the right place, this socially conscious Australian offering shines an exceedingly bright light on the plight of Southeast Asian men and boys who are willfully deceived and ostensibly sold into slavery aboard Thai fishing boats, forced to work under deplorable conditions and sadistic sea captains. In what essentially turns out to be a Western on the high seas, viewers witness the brutal coming of age of a 14-year-old Cambodian youth who is looking for a better life but unwittingly takes a difficult path to reach his goal. In telling his story, the film features superb cinematography, an excellent score, capable performances and a sparklingly clear message, but its minimalist, sometimes-repetitive, often-predictable narrative and one-dimensional character development tend to undermine the other fine assets that the picture has going for it. While it's indeed discomforting to criticize a release with such noble intents behind it, it's also nevertheless regrettable that the filmmakers chose a comparatively pedestrian approach to fulfill them and to tell a story that's long overdue in being told.… Expand

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