South of the Clouds

About This Movie

So, 'South of the Clouds' is this intriguing blend of comedy and drama that really draws you in. It has that laid-back pacing which mirrors the slow, contemplative lives of its characters. The 70-year-old Adrien, played with a kind of earnestness that feels authentic, gathers his friends for a journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway. But the mountain folk are... well, they’re stuck in their ways, clinging to their Jass cards and white wine. It’s fascinating how the film explores themes of adventure versus comfort, and you can feel the tension between wanting to escape and being rooted in tradition. The atmosphere is almost suffocatingly tight-knit yet expansive when it reaches Beijing. It’s a unique portrait of friendship and the stubbornness of age, you know?

Subtle humor throughout · Character-driven storytelling · Captures the essence of rural life