9 Temples to Heaven (2026)
Death is the most powerful and unavoidable force in life. To live, one must stare down one's inevitable death. Every culture has had its own ways of reckoning with death, either trying to find a way to accept the force or fight the force for as long as possible. Screening as part of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, Sompot Chidgasornpongse's 9 Temples to Heaven sees a family make a day-long merit-making trip, traveling to 9 different temples to pray for the health of their grandma (Amara Ramnarong). Along the way, the family faces conflicts of faith and acceptance, each on their own path to understanding the weight of what they are doing and the belief they have that things will get better.
Expertly paced at 140 minutes in length, 9 Temples to Heaven is a slow-burning family drama that wisely knows when to evolve or grow both emotionally and intellectually. Chidgasornpongse's screenplay slowly opens its family dynamics to the audience, letting the audience naturally get to know each member and where they stand. There are major generational gaps and differences of opinion shared between these individuals. While some fully believe in the power of these temple trips, others lack faith that they are anything but a waste of time. As they debate religion, it is pointed out that many religious figures still hold a humanity to them, ultimately unable to defeat death themselves. Is it reasonable to believe in that same force being able to defeat it now? It is also noteworthy that as they travel to each temple, there are different ideas and messages given to them by the monks at each temple. Some try to completely comfort the family, while others give harsher advice as far as the limitations of religion over death. Some seem genuinely inspired to help the family, while others feel more invested in the monetary donations and supplies donated by the family as an offering. While implicitly shared, the film has a deeper statement here about the state of the church and its evolution.
Of course, there is also a dialogue found about the acceptance of death. Many are deeply uncomfortable with conversations about loved ones' deaths, yet in the current situation, every family member is forced to confront it in their own ways. This is the film's most tragic and emotionally impactful angle, creating family dynamics in the face of grief that are sure to feel tragically relatable to many audience members. The entire cast does an excellent job at handling these emotions, each bringing the individual flair of their character while also feeling like an actual family. Every relationship feels like it has history, and the script does a strong job at giving the audience enough to understand these dynamics without being overwritten with exposition or forced dialogue.
Purposely, the voice heard from the least is the grandma herself. While the entire trip is centered around her, it is quickly realized that she would rather be at home watching TV. The family, for her own benefit, has stripped her of autonomy and control, deciding where she should live and how she should live without any input from her. It becomes clear that rather than worrying about what she truly wants, the family's leading concern is trying to maintain her health for their sake. They do not want her to die, so they will do whatever they can, including forcing her to be unhappy, if it gives them a better shot at keeping her alive.
The world of the film is also quite well built. While much of the strongest moments of iconography comes from the sacred temples that the family visits, the film is painfully aware of just how much Thailand is changing outside of the religious walls. The country is developing and morphing with new factories and construction sites. This furthers the feeling of divide at the core of the film, split between tradition and modernism, both in belief and practice. What is the role of religion in this changing world?
9 Temples from Heaven is a powerful family drama that is sure to have many wiping away tears. Tackling multiple sacred conversations, including death, family, and religion, the film might be slower paced, but it uses this to wash away its exterior, giving the audience plenty to engage with at its core.
Expertly paced at 140 minutes in length, 9 Temples to Heaven is a slow-burning family drama that wisely knows when to evolve or grow both emotionally and intellectually. Chidgasornpongse's screenplay slowly opens its family dynamics to the audience, letting the audience naturally get to know each member and where they stand. There are major generational gaps and differences of opinion shared between these individuals. While some fully believe in the power of these temple trips, others lack faith that they are anything but a waste of time. As they debate religion, it is pointed out that many religious figures still hold a humanity to them, ultimately unable to defeat death themselves. Is it reasonable to believe in that same force being able to defeat it now? It is also noteworthy that as they travel to each temple, there are different ideas and messages given to them by the monks at each temple. Some try to completely comfort the family, while others give harsher advice as far as the limitations of religion over death. Some seem genuinely inspired to help the family, while others feel more invested in the monetary donations and supplies donated by the family as an offering. While implicitly shared, the film has a deeper statement here about the state of the church and its evolution.
Of course, there is also a dialogue found about the acceptance of death. Many are deeply uncomfortable with conversations about loved ones' deaths, yet in the current situation, every family member is forced to confront it in their own ways. This is the film's most tragic and emotionally impactful angle, creating family dynamics in the face of grief that are sure to feel tragically relatable to many audience members. The entire cast does an excellent job at handling these emotions, each bringing the individual flair of their character while also feeling like an actual family. Every relationship feels like it has history, and the script does a strong job at giving the audience enough to understand these dynamics without being overwritten with exposition or forced dialogue.
Purposely, the voice heard from the least is the grandma herself. While the entire trip is centered around her, it is quickly realized that she would rather be at home watching TV. The family, for her own benefit, has stripped her of autonomy and control, deciding where she should live and how she should live without any input from her. It becomes clear that rather than worrying about what she truly wants, the family's leading concern is trying to maintain her health for their sake. They do not want her to die, so they will do whatever they can, including forcing her to be unhappy, if it gives them a better shot at keeping her alive.
The world of the film is also quite well built. While much of the strongest moments of iconography comes from the sacred temples that the family visits, the film is painfully aware of just how much Thailand is changing outside of the religious walls. The country is developing and morphing with new factories and construction sites. This furthers the feeling of divide at the core of the film, split between tradition and modernism, both in belief and practice. What is the role of religion in this changing world?
9 Temples from Heaven is a powerful family drama that is sure to have many wiping away tears. Tackling multiple sacred conversations, including death, family, and religion, the film might be slower paced, but it uses this to wash away its exterior, giving the audience plenty to engage with at its core.