They are necessary to provide context for the environment. The added details - of the reality of being in Laos - aren’t just randomly and aimlessly tossed in. Somehow, she finds an effective way to tell a story that unpacks the complicated nature of guilt and its relation to time. Do’s film finds a precarious balance with technology, science, the supernatural, and the spiritual. The film is meant to engage with the central character's emotions and the traumatic events that effectively bookend his life. The layering of narratives and characters could be a point of contention for some, but there is beauty to be found in a nuanced film that does not try to appease its audience with a linear story that spells out every character choice and plot point. Each of them brings an earnest and genuine quality to the film. In addition to the leads, the cast includes the adorable young Por Silatsa and the enigmatic Chansamone Inoudom. In the meantime, the ensemble cast carries much of the emotional heft of the film, pulling viewers in with their considerable screen presence. The Long Walk moves at a steady pace, asking its audience to trust the journey as the narrative and thematic pieces fall into place. It is too deeply entrenched in a cultural context that any choice to make it palatable would diminish Do and Larsen’s goals for the film. Such a story cannot be rushed nor be swayed by conventions. It is deliberately paced to get the best out of the time-traveling aspects of the story.
The Long Walk is a labor of love that is beautifully captured on camera by cinematographer Matthew Macar. With so much mounted on her shoulders, Do once again delivers a film that is teeming with her vision and ambition. As a woman behind the camera, the expectation to deliver a great film are much higher, and Do has already solidified herself as a bold and integral creative whose vision will help create a solid foundation for Laotion cinema. Rather, it uses the framework of a ghost story to delve into the ghosts that may lurk in one's mind. It is not your typical ghost story as it does not engage with the terror that comes with facing a ghost. Do’s film is a carefully considered drama that blends genre with an intimate exploration of the socio-economic hardships of rural Laos and the farmer's complicated past.