Customer Reviews

Dogora [Blu-ray]

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If you're a fan of Leconte or "Qatsi" films I can't recommend this enough. Academy award nominated filmmaker Patrice Leconte, mostly known for his wonderful RIDICULE & HAIRDRESSER'S HUSBAND, now travels to Cambodia to create a wonderful, spiritual symphony of sound, image and movement of a hidden land and its people. From the crowded city streets to rural villages (including the stunning extended panning shot through river-side town), Leconte paints an expert portrait of the beauty in hidden archaic life. Please release the amazing soundtrack by Étienne Perruchon!

The pairing of European orchestral music, especially the climactic superimposition of the choral singers on the tourist images of Cambodia, creates a stunning impression that the director is making a heavy-handed political statement or is out-of-touch and does not look at the world other than via cliches.

The headline catching phrase on this package says "In the tradition of Koyaanisqatsi and Baraka" Sure, if that "Tradition" means turning on a camera and filming something....that's to me where "Tradition" ends with this film.
The entire soundtrack is a full European orchestra that is in constant conflict with the native scenery of Cambodia - let alone the fact that the editorial pace is often so quick you never have time to really absorb any shots. (the shots are no where near the 70mm footage like Baraka) If you've ever been to these Asian lands you'll want to hear the sounds and the people - not a ridiculous symphony designed to evoke such an overblown emotional response. Sure, this might appeal to some people - but if you, like myself, had such an awestruck inspirational moment when seeing Baraka and fell in love with the beautiful images and music that you wondered why cinema couldn't do that kind of work more often - then spare yourself the torture and avoid this film!