When We Became Folk Fest
$11.50
Dir. Truong Minh Quy
2024, Philippines, Singapore, France, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Vietnam, 129 min
Vietnamese with English subtitles
Rated 18A
In the depths of the underground coal mines, where danger awaits and darkness prevails, Nam and Việt, both young miners, cherish fleeting moments, knowing that one of them will soon leave for a new life across the sea.
Just before its premiere at Cannes, Việt and Nam was banned by Vietnam’s Cinema Department for its “gloomy, deadlocked, and negative view” of the country. Although it tells a story specific to the place and its history, the film’s ambiguity and artistic approach render it an emotional, universal, and timeless exploration of the senses. Beautifully shot on 16mm by filmmaker Trương Minh Quý, Việt and Nam is like panning for gold. Its true value surfaces after you dig and let the water wash away the dirt.
