by Phan Dang Di
EnglishIt is the late nineties, Vietnam is in economic turmoil and overpopulation has sparked political concern. Vu, a photography student, arrives in the sprawling metropolis of Saigon and moves into a slum neighbourhood, which he promptly sets out to discover through the lens of his brand new manual camera. He is particularly fascinated by his flatmate Thang, a charismatic young man who is at home amongst drug dealers, gamblers and prostitutes in the nightlife of Saigon. A sensual dancer and Vu’s future wife complicate matters... Using a non-standard narrative form, Vietnamese director Phan Dang Di tells a magical love story against the backdrop of socially tabooed homosexuality.
