“3 hours of absolute mastery”: Rated 4 out of 5, this “elevated journey” is a must-see!

Presented at the recent Cannes Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Camera d’Or prize at the Filmmakers’ Monday, Golden Butterfly Tree, Vietnamese director Pham Thien’s first feature, opens in theaters this week. This mystical and sensual journey 2 h 58 has received good reviews from the press, with an average rating of 4/5 for 23 media (on AlloCiné, as of September 21, 2023).

What are you doing?

After his sister-in-law dies in a motorcycle accident in Saigon, Tien is tasked with returning her body to his home village. He also takes in his 5-year-old nephew, Dao, who miraculously survived the accident. Amidst the mystical landscapes of the Vietnamese countryside, Tien sets out in search of his older brother who disappeared years ago, a journey that deeply challenges his faith.

What does the press think?

According to the part of the gang:

“The great ambition of this first feature film is mixed with its generosity.” (Olivier Pellisson) 5/5

According to Le Dauphiné Libéré:

“Golden Butterfly Tree, director Pham Tien An’s first film presented at the Quinzaine des Filmmakers in Cannes, is no ordinary road trip, but a sensual journey, influenced by sublime sequences. (Natalie Chifflett) 5/5

According to Critikat.com:

“A film whose form, in the footsteps of Tarkovsky and his modern successors, distorts space-time: each tracking shot or panoramic shot opens up space, punctures it, delineates it, makes it relative.” (Corentin Le) 4/5

According to La Croix:

“Recently awarded the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, this brooding and visually stunning debut features a man searching for answers about the beliefs of a Vietnamese village.” (Celine Rudden) 4/5

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According to Télérama:

“Highlighted by majestic scenery, this Vietnamese drama centered on the intimate crisis experienced by a bereaved man is overwhelming in its boundless delicacy.” (Jacques Morris) 4/5

According to Paris Match:

“For his first feature film, Pham Thiên Ân takes us to the countryside of Vietnam to travel through time and mist, a rare plastic beauty.” (Yanik Veli) 4/5

According to Le Figaro:

“Through a man’s return to his native village to bury his daughter-in-law, who died in a motorcycle accident in Saigon, a slow, mystical road movie that questions the divine will of the cinema and the unwavering faith of the audience.” (Étienne Sorin) 3/5

According to CinemaTeaser:

“All dramaturgy is sacrificed on the altar of wandering, reading and searching for meaning.” (Rose Picchin) 2/5