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6.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Oriental Paradise remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you're looking for a plot, turn around now. This isn't The Thirteenth Chair; there's no mystery to solve and nobody is getting murdered. But if you want to watch a screen that feels like a window into a world that doesn't exist anymore, stay.
People who get restless watching paint dry will absolutely hate this. I, for one, found it strangely magnetic.
The film starts with flower arranging. That’s it. Just hands, stems, and water. It goes on for a long time, maybe longer than it needs to, but I stopped checking my watch. The framing is tight and deliberate, like the filmmaker was scared to break the silence.
Then we’re in a park with deer. They look a bit bored, honestly. One deer just stares directly into the lens for a solid ten seconds, looking like he’s judging my life choices. 🦌
It’s not trying to be Peg o' My Heart. It’s not trying to be anything other than a collection of postcard memories. It feels less like a movie and more like someone’s old vacation reels that they forgot to edit down.
Honestly? I like that. It’s refreshingly aimless.
Sometimes you watch a movie and you feel like the director is holding your hand, leading you through their 'vision.' Here, it feels like I just stumbled into someone else's quiet morning. It’s a bit messy. It’s a bit disconnected. But there’s something honest about that. 🌸
It’s not exactly gripping, but it’s a nice way to spend fifteen minutes if you’re tired of the noise of modern life.