Globalisation: Vietnamese Films

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1# Bố Gìa

The Vietnamese film "Bố Già" was directed by Trấn Thành, released in 2021, and falls under the genres of drama and family comedy.

"Bố Già"  tells the story of Ba Sang, a middle-aged man from a working-class neighborhood in Ho Chi Minh City. He struggles to support his family while maintaining his principles of kindness and generosity, often at his own expense. The narrative focuses on the generational and cultural conflicts between Ba Sang and his son, Quân, who aspires for financial success and a modern lifestyle, leading to misunderstandings and emotional tension. The film explores themes of familial love, sacrifice, and reconciliation, highlighting the struggles of urban life in Vietnam.

It was primarily written for a domestic audience. The humor and emotional beats are rooted in Vietnamese language nuances and social norms, which may not fully translate to an international audience without cultural context. In addition,  Its portrayal of life in a typical Ho Chi Minh City neighborhood resonates strongly with Vietnamese viewers familiar with this setting.

2# Mùi Đu Đủ Xanh 

Vietnamese film The Scent of Green Papaya was directed by Trần Anh Hùng, released in 1993, and falls under the drama genre.

The film tells a story about Mùi, a young girl who is adopted by a family in Saigon. The film is divided into 2 parts - The life of Mùi in her adopted family and her life when she started to work as a servant for Khuyến, a wealthy musician and his fiance. The narrative of the film focuses on the patriarchal system most Vietnamese families have in the past. Whilst the women do all the heavy chores and work, the men party and are seen as superior to women. In addition, the narrative revolves around, the unseen daily lifestyle of the Vietnamese, which was not known widely internationally at the time. Moreover, the film shows the venting of frustration and sadness of the characters in the scene, something that was common back then. Lam can be seen venting his frustration when knowing his dad had abandoned him on some ants by squishing them, or Bà Ty, who cries in isolation after knowing that her husband stole all the family's savings to leave the family for good.

The film was written for an international audience. First, the film was produced in France, not Vietnam, and funded largely by French studios. Next, Its aesthetic focus on visuals and mood, rather than dialogue or plot, aligns with global tastes for artistic films. In addition, The film was less accessible to Vietnamese audiences at the time of its release, partly due to its overseas production and the limited presence of arthouse cinemas in Vietnam during the early 1990s.

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