This film is a somewhat contrived but not uninteresting portrayal of the midlife crisis/adventure of two middle-aged men who are living the American dream and yet are feeling spiritually deadened and untrue to themselves. Longing for the freedom of their youth, they find a way to visit the Philippines, where temptations of opium and sex are found. They wrestle with their predicament, try to create heaven on earth for themselves, but they stumble on their inner conflicts.
The core of the film concerns issues around the human condition, bio-sexual determinism, and the quest for happiness. A Buddhist monk enters the scene and presents his take on things. The film is not comforting and romantic but sobering and 'existential'. If you wrestle with the viability of existential idealism or the demands and disillusionments of a spiritual path, this film may be of particular interest.
The acting and production are so-so (B-movie), but the existentiality and themes made it worthwhile for me. 7/10
The core of the film concerns issues around the human condition, bio-sexual determinism, and the quest for happiness. A Buddhist monk enters the scene and presents his take on things. The film is not comforting and romantic but sobering and 'existential'. If you wrestle with the viability of existential idealism or the demands and disillusionments of a spiritual path, this film may be of particular interest.
The acting and production are so-so (B-movie), but the existentiality and themes made it worthwhile for me. 7/10