Satu - Year of the Rabbit

A feature-length drama written and directed by Joshua Trigg and starring Itthiphone Sonepho, Vanthina Saysana, Athit Silavong and Tao Chanthavong.

In Laos, a desperate woman (Chanthavong) is forced to leave her infant child at a monastery in the Pha Tang village in Laos. Years later, Bo (Saysana), a seventeen-year-old woman and aspiring photojournalist living in Vientiane runs away from her abusive father and ends up at the monastery, where she meets Satu (Sonepho), the boy who was left there by his mother. Soon after, one of the monks (Silavong) decides that it would be better for Satu if he and Bo travelled together to Muang Ngoy, where it is believed that is where Satu's mother lives, so he can join her as the monastery has found itself in jeopardy due to several unexploded bombs being located nearby. Bo agrees and the two of them embark on the long journey.

This is a dramatic and moving story that relies heavily on the rapport that develops between Satu and Bo as they travel through Laos either by motorcycle or on foot, have fun, get into some misadventures and have confrontations between them. Additionally, the screenplay alternates with two other storylines, one of which involves the monks at the monastery trying to contact the authorities and the other is about Satu's mother rescuing a man from a river. The film is filled with dramatic and heart-warming moments, which are supported by Joshua Szwezda's music. Trigg adds significant further qualities thanks to the superb directing, with shots that capture the beauty of the surrounding landscapes.

To a certaing degree, this is a road movie with a Satu and Bo as the travelers. Satu may be a child, however he shows maturity far beyond his years as he understands morality and is determined to be reunited with his estranged mother. Bo is a well-meaning youngster who strives to pursue her goals and throughout the journey, she becomes a sort of mother figure to Satu. Regarding Satu's mother, she is a good person who has been left with deep emotional wounds due to losing her boy.

This story is a journey. An emotional journey that explores self-discovery, self-reflection, friendship, support, honesty, regrets and aspirations and it looks into all this extensively.

A story about an encounter between two strangers that ends up changing their lives and teaching them valuable lessons about life. It is moving film with a script that shows the struggles of life and the joys that it offers.