VIET AND NAM -- A Visually-Stunning Yet Sometimes Meandering Romance

Review by Camden Ferrell

Banned in Vietnam, Viet and Nam is the second narrative feature film from writer and director Truong Minh Quý after his 2019 effort The Tree House. His newest feature had its premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival where it received a nomination for the Queer Palm. It is without a doubt a visually stunning experience, but its hypnotic musings on love and Vietnamese history can make the film meander too much for its own good.
 
This film follows the titular duo, two young Vietnamese miners who find themselves engaged in a love affair plagued with difficult decisions including Nam’s desire to leave for Europe.  This romance is underscored by a country in the wake of war and trauma as Nam’s mother is searching for answers about his father who left during the war. While there is an underlying plot driving the story forward, the movie seems less concerned with plot and more concerned with its own atmosphere and ambiance. This is a decision that will have differing mileage depending on the viewer.
 
That being said, while the plot feels secondary, Quý’s script is still full of undeniably tender and beautiful moments throughout. Their impact is sometimes undermined by its sluggish pacing, but in a vacuum, he wrote some truly nuanced dialogue and interactions that make the film feel painfully real at times. He especially excels at the moments of intimacy between his two leads, and it’s an incredibly compelling relationship that he is able to create with so few words.

At its core, the movie would fail to work without the wonderful chemistry of Đào Duy Bảo Định and Phạm Thanh Hải who play Viet and Nam, respectively. They lean into the long pauses and fill them with indescribable yearning that really elevates the movie even in its weaker moments. It’s a vulnerable, physical, and emotional role that they both play so well. In a movie like this, believing in their love is non-negotiable, and they deliver marvelously.
 
There isn’t enough I can say about how beautifully shot this entire movie is. Quý and his cinematographer Son Doan make every frame feel like a painting you never want to look away from. It utilizes minimal camera movement and extended takes to create a dreamy atmosphere, and it’s a method that works for better or worse. While I can’t commend the visual splendor of the film enough, I will say that the movie does have a severe pacing problem that keeps it from greatness. However, I’m inclined to believe it’s by design. This seems like a movie you’re supposed to float in and out of more than follow, but it has mixed effects. While I can appreciate the deliberately stalled pace, it’s often at the expense of so many other great elements.
 
Viet and Nam is beautiful, but it can be occasionally demanding. It has some very nuanced explorations of the lingering effects of trauma and war below a delicately crafted story of closeted gay love. While I can’t say it’s great due to its execution, it’s a rewarding experience that I encourage everyone to view with an open mind.
 
Viet and Nam is in theaters March 28.
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Rating: 3.5/5