Filmmaker Kimi Takesue presents a uniquely observational portrait of a nation shaped by visitors in her new documentary, Onlookers. The film, shot entirely in Laos, turns a static, contemplative lens on the complex interplay between local life and the global tourism industry.
A Postcard View, Interrupted
The documentary's opening frames capture the iconic imagery of Laos familiar from travel brochures: glimmering golden temples, majestic waterfalls, and serene processions of monks set against lush landscapes. Takesue employs minimal camera movement, allowing these compositions to sit like living photographs. However, this picturesque view is consistently interrupted by the presence of tourists. The film highlights the visual and auditory disruption they bring, with crowds in casual shorts and t-shirts contrasting sharply with ancient architecture, their boisterous leisure activities juxtaposed against the quiet rhythms of daily Laotian life.
Tension in the Frame
The core of Onlookers lies in the tension between the fixed camera position and the movement within its viewfinder. Scenes of tourists being herded onto buses evoke comparisons to Jacques Tati's satire of modern tourism, Playtime. Yet, Takesue's perspective has drawn some critique for occasionally reinforcing simplistic binaries. The film predominantly shows white Western tourists, despite the reality that most visitors to Laos arrive from neighbouring Asian nations. It also touches on the region's own diversity, with one scene noting men "arguing in Lao" while some are actually speaking Vietnamese.
Provoking Questions on Cinema and Tourism
While some may find its insights into the tourism economy familiar, Onlookers succeeds in raising compelling questions about the relationship between the tourist gaze and the cinematic eye. It prompts viewers to consider how both mediums frame, edit, and consume culture. The film's strength is in its quiet, persistent observation, inviting the audience to sit with the discomfort and fascination of being an onlooker themselves.
The documentary Onlookers will be available to stream on the platform True Story from 5 December.
