All you can eat Buddha

All You Can Eat Buddha is a fascinatingly unusual film centered around a quintessential French tourist, Michel. The film skilfully merges elements of magic realism and deep social commentary with a distinct, peculiar undertone of humor. Released in 2017, this engaging indie film features the compelling performances of Sylvio Arriola, Ludovic Berthillot, and Daydi Diaz Cabrera.

With Ludovic Berthillot at the helm playing Michel, All You Can Eat Buddha tells the story of a man who decides on a solitary vacation in an all-inclusive Caribbean resort, the Palacio. Michel is a somewhat unusual man, a lovable loner, more fascinated by the insipid hotel buffets than the stunning island landscape and its culture. Every day, he engages in the ritualistic consumption of gigantic meals in the resort's all-you-can-eat restaurant.

Michel's quiet and subdued life suddenly begins to intertwine with the surreal when he seemingly performs a miracle, rescuing a dying man using peculiar methods. Following this, a string of odd occurrences strikes the Palacio resort, defying the norms of reality and logic. Bit by bit, Michel becomes the center of an unfolding story, a kind of messiah for the resort inhabitants and the magnet for the increasingly unusual happenings around the place.

Simultaneously, there's an undercurrent of social commentary as the film insightfully explores the impact of tourist culture on local societies. From mesmerizing local rituals to candid images of hotel staff breezing through their daily chores and responsibilities, All You Can Eat Buddha gives a rounded perspective of resort life, from the guest end to the side of the diligent locals. All characters imbue their roles with sincerity—Sylvio Arriola and Daydi Diaz Cabrera do an excellent job portraying the intricate microcosm of the resort.

Critically acclaimed for its evocative cinematography, All You Can Eat Buddha paints a vivid picture of its Caribbean backdrop. The shimmering beaches, densely forested island interiors, and sprawling hotel landscapes add another dimension to the storytelling, extending the presence of the surreal into the physical environment of the film. Notably, the blend of lethargic pace and intriguing visuals generate an interesting contrast that compels viewers to engage with the film’s storyline on a deeper level.

Embracing slow cinema aesthetics in every aspect, All You Can Eat Buddha carries a meditative quality that reflects in its unusually composed shots, lingering sequences, and usage of spectacular natural panoramas. Director Ian Lagarde unveils the narrative in a measured pace that allows viewers to fully appreciate both the surface storyline and the underlining themes. The film comfortably rests in the realm of magic realism, blending everyday reality with a shimmer of the extraordinary and creating a world where miracles can seemingly take place.

Despite its surrealistic framing, the film does not shy away from its humorous undertones. There's a dark comedy element to Michel's interaction with his fellow tourists and hotel staff that adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. The humor in All You Can Eat Buddha is subtle, woven carefully into dialogues and situations that surprise you with a clever punchline or an ironic twist.

Enigmatic and mystical, All You Can Eat Buddha is a captivating watch. It challenges the viewer's perspective of the world, taking them on a journey where the commonplace meets the extraordinary. Through its intriguing story and its visually striking cinematography, it offers an engaging venture into the unexpected, challenging typical cinematic storytelling and leaving long-lasting nuances in the mind of the viewer.

All You Can Eat Buddha certainly makes for an offbeat and pleasantly surprising cinematic experience. It is an alternative, magical realist film that explores humor, humanity, life's essential truths, and the powerful influence that solitary figures can have on their surrounds. Dive into this vibrant, magical realism-filled narrative to truly experience a story that is as amusing as it is deep and philosophical.