Sydney Film Festival Review - Việt and Nam

 

“Do you see him?”

Tender, subtle and slow, Việt and Nam is a poignant yet provocative film about generational trauma & the ghosts of the past, mixed non-linearly with the hopes of the future and the struggles of the presence, that soothes in its quietness, but leaves a sensitive impression upon its close.

Discussion Points:

Censored and banned in Vietnam due to its themes, Việt and Nam is an eight country co-production that was shot on 16mm film. It was fascinating hearing during the post-screening Q&A just how arduous that process was, with some footage being destroyed by customs as they tried to ship the undeveloped film dailies overseas to be developed, who opened canisters and exposed it to light or who x-rayed it, damaging the celluloid. The end result is a tender, sensitive and sensual tale told by young auteur Trương Minh Quý, that follows two main threads: the journey of two gay coal miners who dream of migrating to Europe, and the journey of one of the men, along with his mother, to find the remains of his father who was killed during the Vietnam War. I personally found the thread focusing on the scars of the past and the search for Nam’s fathers remains to be more engaging and impactful and was fascinated seeing the cultural ramifications and spiritual implications of loss and grief. Extra bonus points for meeting Quý afterwards and getting to shake his and the producers hands and congratulating them on getting the film made and released.