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A young Cambodian-Australian woman copes with her parents’ death by tending to grief and greenery.

In the confines of a greenhouse draped in transparent plastic, a young woman cares for her family’s plants as the seasons roll by. Her mother and father have recently died, and she has retreated to this solitary, routinary existence. But can the thin sheeting keep her bubble safe from the elements – and from the emotions that come with loss?

Minimalist in set-up and style, The Plastic House is a masterful piece of experimental filmmaking, privileging atmosphere over action in its almost-wordless exploration of mourning, migration and the passage of time. Blending documentary and fiction elements alongside classic slow-cinema technique, this lyrical, semiautobiographical piece heralds Allison Chhorn as an intriguing new Australian voice.

“Almost the definition of a tone poem, Chhorn’s film is an unforgettable experiment in narrative … It’s simply unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.” – Criterion CastA young Cambodian-Australian woman copes with her parents’ death by tending to grief and greenery.

In the confines of a greenhouse draped in transparent plastic, a young woman cares for her family’s plants as the seasons roll by. Her mother and father have recently died, and she has retreated to this solitary, routinary existence. But can the thin sheeting keep her bubble safe from the elements – and from the emotions that come with loss?

Minimalist in set-up and style, The Plastic House is a masterful piece of experimental filmmaking, privileging atmosphere over action in its almost-wordless exploration of mourning, migration and the passage of time. Blending documentary and fiction elements alongside classic slow-cinema technique, this lyrical, semiautobiographical piece heralds Allison Chhorn as an intriguing new Australian voice.

“Almost the definition of a tone poem, Chhorn’s film is an unforgettable experiment in narrative … It’s simply unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.” – Criterion Cast