Vietnamese Films in Phnom Penh

Sat 17 Sep 2011
Meta House
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

From Yxine Film Fest:
The program contains some of the best films from the official line-up of the first edition of YxineFF in 2010 which is themed “Love”. The first part showcases the three films which have won awards given by a prestigious jury. The second part presents three films which deal specifically with love in the family. The last part goes beyond the theme “Love” and celebrates a new generation of filmmakers who are breaking the waves. – Marcus Manh Cuong Vu, Festival Director of YxineFF.

1. Award-winning Films

Thinking of You (2009) by Vu Quang Huy, 5 min – Golden Heart, Best Directing, Best Cinematography, Best Acting
A florist puts a new flower-pot on the windowsill every morning. The fresh flower pot is like a welcome invitation for customers, but it is actually just for only one person to behold. Then one day, the guy whom she crushes on comes in her shop…

Up in the Tree (2010) by Bui Quoc Thang, 6 min, animation – New Heart
In the tree, a Woodpecker falls in love with a pretty Nightingale. The Woodpecker tries his best to win over the beauty’s heart. Problem arises, however, when they kiss, as Woodpecker’s strong beak terrifies Nightingale. Heart-broken, Woodpecker sits under the pouring rain. Can they ever find their way back to each other?

The Journey Unknown (2009) by Do Dang Thuong, 4 min, animation – Best Editing, Best Scriptwriting
An unknown character is born with a face that has 3 circles, an appearance resembles the person in Edvard Munch’s painting “ The scream”. The unknown enters each page, experiences from heaven, trees, flowers to the urbanisation process, strikes, ruins, wars. How many percent of this literal dream is reality?

2. Theme: “Love and Family”

Garden (2010) by Doan Hoang Kien, 10 min, documentation
In a house with a garden full of old trees in the heart of Hanoi, where laughter is rare yet sigh is abundant, live a mother, her son and her grandchild. Bearing a broken marriage, the mother lives in resentment toward the husband, distances herself from her son, who reminds her of her life’s unhappiness. Growing up in loneliness, the son understands his mother yet he cannot stop blaming her. He is sad that his mother takes care of her grandchild in a manner totally unlike to how she treated him then. All he has left, to relieve him from loneliness, is the garden.

Mother and Daughters (2009) by Phan Huyen My, 22 min, documentation
Set in the context of a house and the character is his own mother, the director tells a story about the daily life in his family, when the clash of generations is revealed through each conversation. The mother in the film is inclined to being traditional, disciplined, imposing while her teenage children gear toward the lively and modern lifestyle. The conflict between mother and her children is shown in all aspects: from the way of walking, dressing, lifestyle to the dreams.

Oh Mommy! (2007) by Jenni Trang Le, 5 min, animation
A new born pretty quail has just lost his mother! Oh Mommy! (2007) is his tumultuous & lonely journey to find mother.

3. Breaking the Waves

Behind the wooden door… (2009) by Ta Nguyen Hiep, 14 min, horror
An university guy arrives to stay in a small room. The owner warmly welcomes him as if he were her son. However, on the first night, the strange noises coming from the wooden attic confuse and haunt him. What’s happening in this place? What’s happening with himself?

Les cheveux qui poussent à l’envers (2010) by Truong Que Chi, 10 min, experimental
The hair growing inwards as the literal translation of the film title, is a metaphorical image used in the centre of this fictional documentary. The young girl usually cuts her hair when she wants to bury the recollection of her ex-boyfriend who is now long gone. Very short, even shaven. Then she expects her hair to grow quickly. That wish is not easy at all because the past obsessions also come back to haunt her.

Cut (2009) by Tran Ly Tri Tan, 7 min
Two men – one is a barber and the other is a customer. Both are in different situations but they sympathise and share with each other their hardships in life. The barber, or more precisely, he and his scissors, along with the loyal customer overcome the most darkest as well as the brightest moments of their lives together.

Trapped (2010) by K5, 7 min, horror
A teacher who loves his job goes to the school as usual although it is holiday. His students appear in unreal forms and the class’s atmosphere is gloomy. They look tired, uninterested and unfocused, however it is not without the teasing of a lame boy who usually goes to school late. The teasing goes beyond the scope of playing when a can of gasoline and lighter are involved in the game.