On the whole, Manakamana succeeds by creating the ongoing anticipation of something, anything to happen next, a wholly unique sensation specific to its inventive design.
100
Time OutKeith Uhlich
Time OutKeith Uhlich
You could hardly ask for a more beautiful vision of souls in transit.
100
Village VoiceCalum Marsh
Village VoiceCalum Marsh
Among the many remarkable qualities boasted by Manakamana, perhaps the most surprising is its humor.
81
Film.comCalum Marsh
Film.comCalum Marsh
It is amazing, given the modesty of its scope and means, how much Manakamana is able to achieve.
It’s the closest I’ve seen a film come to an act of genuine hypnosis.
75
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Filmmakers Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez insist that altered spectatorship, particularly patience and duration, is the foundation of cinematic edification.
Really, though, the film’s focus is on neither the destination nor the journey, but on the individuals planting themselves in front of the lens.
70
The DissolveNoel Murray
The DissolveNoel Murray
Manakamana is both calming and imagination-sparking, forcing viewers to look at human faces for 10-minute stretches, whether those faces are talking excitedly or quietly looking around.