Monthly Archives: September, 2011

Closely Watched Train Watcher

"The sophomore effort of Malaysian director Dain Said, Bunohan, plays like King Lear in a murky, jungle landscape, with the narrative focus being transposed to three very estranged brothers. Despite a narrative that seems rife with tragic and violent implications, this surprisingly tame tale has trouble setting a clear tone or managing to bring anything refreshing to the well-tread territory of the ties that bind."

Muted Feelings Trapped in a Plodding Tale of Patrilineage

"If this sounds like a mess on paper, it’s not helped by the cinematic medium. Nearly every scene attempting to evoke feelings of sadness (so 90% of the interactions with the male prostitutes) are hindered by tinkling piano keys and/or a melody meant to evoke melancholy longing."

"The ominous and foreboding terrain of Tasmania proves to be the film’s greatest asset in an otherwise unsurprising and unchallenging film about a perennially explored subject."