AllMovie

A 10-year-old boy from rural Laos strives prove to his family that he isn't cursed by building the rocket that will win him a major competition in this first-time feature from writer and director Kim Mordaunt. Ahlo (Sitthiphon Disamoe) is a young boy with some serious baggage; for as long as he can remember his family has claimed he was cursed. Fleeing into rural Laos with his father and grandmother as their village is emptied out to make way for a new dam, the trio happen across a rocket contest that captivates young Ahlo's imagination. Before long Ahlo's new friend Kia (Loungnam Kaosainam) and her oddball uncle -- a James Brown fanatic -- are helping the young boy to build his very own rocket. But this competition has an air of danger, and as Ahlo prepares for the big day, the risk only seems to grow.