Adrift
Vietnam
|
2009
|
Color
|
110 min
This directory compiles the glossaries from all editions of Cines del Sur: eleven already held and the twelfth currently underway. It serves as a living memory of the festival, its films, guests, sections, and spaces for reflection on the cinemas of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Arab world. Here you can trace the evolution of its programming, rediscover filmmakers, and follow the thematic threads that have defined Cines del Sur's identity as a meeting point for cultures, perspectives, and ways of understanding cinema from the Global South.
In a country defined by its strict adherence to traditional morals and values, Adrift explores the life of Duyen, a young woman who has just married a taxi driver named Hai. Closer to a friendship than a romantic relationship, the marriage is soon characterized by loneliness and a lack of intimacy. This situation is further complicated by the presence of Cam, a writer and friend of Duyen's who has long harbored a secret love for her. Driven by jealousy and sadness, Cam devises a plan to push Duyen into an illicit relationship with a man, which will awaken the young woman's sexuality. This poetic and sensual tale, which delves into tortuous loves in contemporary Vietnam, sheds light on the changes in societal values, while exploring sexual awakening, lesbian desire, and infidelity.
Technical Details
Direction:
Bui Thac Chuyen
Cinematography:
Ly Thai Dzung
Music:
Hoang Ngoc Dai
Language:
Vietnamese
Production:
Dang Tat Binh, Claire-Agnès Lajoumard
Art Direction:
La Quy Tung
Sound:
Arnaud Soulier
Subtitles:
English and Spanish
Screenplay:
Phan Dang Di
Editing:
Julie Beziau
Cast:
Do Hai Yen (Duyen), Linh-Dan Pham (Cam), Nguyen Duy Khoa (Hai), Johnny Tri Nguyen (Tho)
Director
Bui Thac Chuyen
Bui Thac Chuyen was born in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 1968. He studied Acting and Directing at the capital's Institute of Theater and Cinema. After winning several awards as an actor, he began directing short films and television series in 1991. In 2000, he became the first Vietnamese director to win an award at the Cannes Film Festival with his short film Night Run. Four years later, he presented his debut feature film, Living in Fear, for which he received several awards. In addition to this work, he is also a publicist and documentarian, and has an extensive social involvement that led him to create the Center for Assistance and Development of Film Talents (TPD) and Vietnam's first specialized cinema bookstore. His latest film, Adrift, won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Venice International Film Festival.
