Movies

A quiet couple connects in the shadows of war and national trauma in ‘Việt and Nam’

BBG News

Title “Việt and Nam” by director Trương Minh Quý cleverly hints at its themes, as it’s built around intriguing symmetries and contrasts. The story unfolds in Vietnam during 2001, primarily revolving around two characters sharing the film’s name. It delves into parallel perspectives on history and mutual desires, making it a film about reflections of the past and echoes of longing. The narrative is both evocative and mysterious, perhaps even overly so at times. Trương’s cinematic journey through the minds of two young men, who peer into their past and future equally, uncovers Vietnam’s painful war-scarred history while simultaneously dramatizing a more recent heartbreak – the 2019 loss of Vietnamese immigrants who perished in a shipping container.

In Trương’s film, the title isn’t revealed until halfway through its duration. When it does appear, it’s in plain text against a dark background, almost dividing the movie into two halves. This moment feels more like an interruption than an introduction, making viewers acutely conscious of all the boundaries and structures that shape the film. These include geographical divisions such as north and south, before and after the war, but also the line between consciousness and unconsciousness (life and death). However, Trương doesn’t present these themes in a systematic manner. Instead, his movie is rich with poetry, weaving these poetic contrasts through its thin plotline.

Việt (Duy Bảo Định Đào) and Nam (Thanh Hải Phạm) spend a significant portion of their days below ground, coated in coal dust and devoid of the sun’s warmth. Frequently, it’s challenging to tell them apart. Upon our initial encounter, they discuss peculiar nighttime dreams (“A fish approached me,” Nam shares. “It seemed curious about me”) and express concern over Nam’s plans to illegally cross the border (“You’re out of your mind,” Việt cautions him).

Movies

For Subscribers

The 27 best movie theaters in Los Angeles

27 top movie theaters in Los Angeles have been highlighted, ranging from the TCL Chinese Theatre and the New Beverly Cinema to the Alamo Drafthouse and the AMC theater that dominates Burbank.

Despite the grim work conditions at the mine, these two lads discover brief moments of contentment. One rests against another as they wait to collect their wages, a spontaneous hug that escapes notice by those in proximity. They intertwine fingers beneath the table during family interrogations about why they haven’t yet married. Their relationship isn’t entirely clandestine but neither is it openly declared. Many of their most private instances actually occur in pitch-black spaces, where their dirty bodies still stand out amidst the surrounding filth and debris.

In a particularly striking scene, the movie frequently depicts the two young men wrapped intimately amidst the shimmering, dark coal, showcasing a raw tenderness between them that beautifully expresses Việt and Nam’s deep affection for each other. The intensity of their physical desire and emotional connection is evident throughout, creating a love that feels tangible and grounded in reality. They share blood by licking it, suck on each other’s thumbs, and even consume earwax. Given these intimate acts, the prospect of Nam leaving could potentially disrupt the strong bond they have built. Việt worries not only about his own fate but also the potential risks Nam may face if he chooses to embark on a perilous journey similar to those taken by others in their community.

Trương does not limit his focus solely on the young lovers or Nam’s plan to escape permanently. Instead, he skillfully weaves their heartwarming love story alongside a heartrending narrative. While Nam’s mother (Nguyễn Thị Nga) grapples with the loss of her husband during the war, she becomes fixated on locating his remains, which were never found. She believes that the dreams she’s been experiencing recently hold the key to uncovering where her husband might be buried. When an old comrade of her husband agrees to assist in retracing his steps, the story moves away from the gloomy confines of the mine and into verdant forests. Here, remnants of the past war continue to cast a shadow over the daily lives of these characters.

In this portrayal by Trương, there’s a sense of everyday ordinary, yet an intriguing glimpse into the potential mysteries that lie within. Each scene in “Việt and Nam” seems like a carefully arranged painting, making us curious spectators, yearning to unravel the secrets it holds. The film’s lengthy, leisurely shots are accompanied by the natural sounds surrounding its characters (gusty winds, pounding rainstorms, even the silent tranquility of the mine), creating an atmosphere that is both straightforward and enigmatic. Patient viewers will be captivated by its spellbinding charm, possibly finding themselves swayed or even swept off their feet by its mesmerizing allure.

Read More

2025-04-05 02:01

Previous post Chris Hemsworth Admits Intimidation by Hollywood Star Halle Berry
Next post Teddi Mellencamp Spotted for the First Time Since Cancer Update: ‘Prepared for the Worst’