Satu – Year of the Rabbit

Part of CINECITY 2024

Followed by Q&A with director Joshua Trigg

Shot on location around the mountains, rivers and villages of Laos, this coming-of-age tale is a beautiful portrait of friendship, resilience and Buddhist philosophy.

Bo is a wannabe photojournalist looking for a story. Determined to escape her abusive father, she sets off from the Laotian capital of Vientiane in search of a project she can use as a submission to enrol on a journalism course. She eventually arrives at the Pha Tang temple, where she meets a young boy named Satu. He has spent his life at the monastery after being abandoned there as a baby. Could Satu’s parentage be the story Bo is looking for? The pair set out together, heading north on an expedition to find Satu’s mother.

With both lead characters played by non-actors, Joshua Trigg’s debut has a charming authenticity and warmth to it, while the country of Laos is stunningly captured in gorgeous 16mm.