The Garden of Earthly Delights

What a life-changing film. The story is deeply moving, and at times really hard to watch because it challenges you to feel empathy in places you didn't expect. You sit there, trying not to see what's coming, holding on to the hope of a happy ending, but no, reality isn't happy. It forces you to stop looking away.

Despite the weight of the subject, the film is visually stunning. It's full of colour, lights, rhythm, symbolism: the flowers, the gongs, and that surreal, hallucinogenic scene in the forest. Absolutely mind-blowing!

We were lucky enough to attend a Q&A with Morgan Knibbe himself, and it gave so much context to the process. You can feel the respect and care he put into this work. He absolutely deserves recognition for it. And the young "actors"-who aren't actors at all-especially Ginto, brought so much authenticity. When he said he hoped to create respect, I think he nailed it.

The message is painfully clear, especially for a Western or European audience. It's a direct confrontation with the legacy of colonialism, how it's still glorified, how it's taught with vague language, and how its consequences continue today in forms even harder to detect. Neo-colonialism isn't just history, it's ongoing, layered, and devastating. This film doesn't let you walk away untouched.

I feel I could write more about it, but I'm still processing.