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"Independent film" - according to the "Film and Television Terminology" of the Vietnam Film Association, also known as "Art-for-Art Film," refers to a film produced by an individual or group of people independently, not for profit, with funding from their own pockets or from sponsors, and without a managing company. The term also encompasses independence in content, ideology, artistic criteria, and independence from external influences, placing the individual's vibrant and engaging personality at the center of the creative process.
Independent filmmakers primarily pursue their passions, so they don't need large budgets or famous actors. What attracts audiences is mainly the subject matter and fresh perspective.
Not confined to outdated stereotypes or themes that strictly adhere to traditional customs or morals, independent films explore the most ordinary and hidden aspects of human life, frankly exposing reality with artistic refinement, valuing humanity without denying moral values. It is these unique characteristics that have made this genre of Vietnamese cinema successful internationally, receiving a warm welcome from international audiences.
"Glorious Ashes" with a distinct artistic imprint.
With the profound sadness of human existence rising from the "Glorious Ashes," director Bui Thac Chuyen once again dissects a familiar theme: the unstable relationship between men and women through the language of cinema.
Director Bui Thac Chuyen's film won the top prize, the Golden Balloon Award (French: Montgolfière D'or). The website of the Three Continents Film Festival published the jury's comments on the film:We award this film for the poetic quality of the shimmering and enchanting world it portrays..."This also marks the first time a film from Vietnam has won the top prize at the Three Continents International Film Festival. The jury praised the film for its enchanting poetry and the aesthetic values and local flavor vividly recreated through the director's authorial language."
The film's story takes place in Thom Rom village, in the Ca Mau river region, a place that has long been the subject of many Vietnamese literary and cinematic works.
“Glorious Ashes” tells the story of three women, how they love and try to keep their men. The film's main setting is Ca Mau. Bui Thac Chuyen wrote the screenplay himself, based on two short stories, “Drifting Wood” and “Glorious Ashes,” set in a poor, desolate, and stagnant rural area in the Southwest of Vietnam. He not only conveys the rich, local cultural space in Nguyen Ngoc Tu's literature but also illuminates it through a psychological lens, with characters who seem dead or deeply wounded from within.
In this barren land, in this life deprived of complete love, people with twisted destinies harbor no resentment. They still love, still forgive, and calmly accept whatever life brings.
"If I could have cried, I wouldn't have burned down the house."—Nguyen Ngoc Tu wrote this through the nonchalant explanation of the drunken man who likes to burn houses in 'Brilliant Ashes'. In Bui Thac Chuyen's film, Tam's arson addiction seems to express the impotence of masculinity and the wounds of men in their search for happiness with the women they love."
"Inside the Cocoon" wins major award in Italy.
Director Pham Thien An's debut film, "Inside the Golden Cocoon," brilliantly won the prestigious "Golden Lens" award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
The film tells the story of Thien, played by actor Le Phong Vu, who brings the remains of his sister-in-law back to their hometown after a motorcycle accident. From a young man who left his hometown for the city to make a living, preoccupied with drinking sessions with his friends on street corners, Thien now has to raise his young nephew, Dao, his sister-in-law's son, after a family tragedy.
The director uses a minimalist, natural yet subtle and elegant cinematic language to lead us on a journey into the inner world of a character.
During his journey back to his hometown to bury his sister-in-law, Thien faces internal conflicts intertwined with the dissatisfactions of life. His past stories resurface through flashbacks, evoking feelings of helplessness that force him to embark on a long-neglected quest for faith.
"Inside the Golden Cocoon" is presented in a documentary-like style, featuring various characters, each with their own life story: an older brother who left his wife and children behind to work far away, an orphaned nephew with naive questions about "faith" and "heaven," the unfinished love story between Thien and Thao - who later decided to become a nun, and a veteran named Luu who works as a funeral director for the villagers,...
Could that be the reason why the film about an "unmistakable Vietnam" reached a prestigious award at the Cannes Film Festival?
Screendaily wrote:Cinematographer Dinh Duy Hung shows viewers the beautiful scenery of Vietnam, such as tranquil forests at night, rushing waterfalls, trees swaying in the wind, or images of colorful golden cocoons. The camera angles are well-chosen and rhythmic, focusing on key details. Pham Thien An knows exactly what he needs to capture to convey the story to the audience.".
"Rain on a Butterfly" had a successful premiere at Venice 2024.
"Rain on Butterfly Wings" is the debut feature film of 9x director Duong Dieu Linh, following her impressive short films "Heaven Calls," "Sweet and Salty," and "Mother, Daughter, Dreams." It was the only Vietnamese film representative at Venice 2024 to win two awards within the framework of the International Critics' Week: the Circolo del Cinema Verona Award for Most Innovative Film and the Iwonderfull Grand Prize for Best Film.
The film tells the story of Tâm (played by Tú Oanh) and her daughter Hà (played by Nam Linh) who, after watching a football match on television, ride a motorbike to confront their husband and father, Hà, after discovering his infidelity. Tâm seeks out an online sorcerer hoping to change her husband's mind, but inadvertently awakens a mysterious supernatural force within her own home.
"Rain on a Butterfly" received enthusiastic applause from audiences at Venice Critics' Week immediately after its premiere. The film received a two-and-a-half-minute standing ovation and was reviewed by many prestigious international film news sites such as IndieWire, Screendaily, and Cineuropa. Director Duong Dieu Linh broke down in tears after the screening and shook hands with each member of the crew before going on stage to give a speech.
Rain on Butterfly Wings is a genre experiment by Duong Dieu Linh: from short films to a feature film, exploring the struggles of middle-aged women in Vietnamese society.
Immediately following the Venice Film Festival, "Rain on a Butterfly" went on to participate in the Toronto International Film Festival and the Busan Film Festival in October, as part of the "A Window on Asian Cinema" program.
The award was a pleasant surprise and a source of happiness for director Duong Dieu Linh and the film crew, but for the young woman, the greatest reward was the memories on set, the spirit of camaraderie and shared hardship, and the love the entire team had for each other and for the film.
Actress Tú Oanh (standing) at the Venice Film Festival 2024
Like all other art forms, cinema needs to be geared towards the public, meeting their healthy needs, and independent films are no exception. The key to an independent film reaching the public is the talent, dedication, and effort of the filmmaker. In addition, support from regulatory bodies is needed for this genre through mechanisms, policies, and funding from film development support funds.
