Movie Poster

In my garden there is a papaya tree. The papayas grow in bunches. Ripe papayas are a pale yellow. They are fragrant and they taste very sweet.

# Review

Continuing with the trend of Vietnamese movies, this one garnered international acclaim and was almost the first Vietnamese movie to win an Oscar. The story follows Mùi (Man San Lu), a servant girl who enters service in the home of a once-wealthy family that is on the economic decline. There is no clear storyline, and instead the audience follows Mùi as she matures and learns about the story behind the family.

Personally, I find the film to be almost European in its pacing. The film is very slow and takes its time to build up the atmosphere. The shots are gorgeous and full of colour. This is perhaps one of the most beautiful Asian films I’ve ever watched. The movie is rich with symbolism and feels very much like an arthouse film. The music by Tôn-Thất Tiết also contributes greatly to the atmosphere. Outside of the style, the performances by the cast are solid. There are few overly dramatic scenes, but the cast’s performances are very nuanced, especially Ngoc Trung Tran’s portrayal of the patriarch of the family and Lu’s role as a young Mùi. My favourite roles are definitely Thi Loc Truong’s role as the mother and Tran Nu Yen Khe’s role as an adult Mùi; both roles were simple but had plenty of depth. Outside of the style of the film, the film had very little to offer. While there are some interesting themes, such as the role of the patriarchy, the story overall felt anticlimactic.

# Conclusion

An aesthetically beautiful movie, but not much else.

# Overall rating: 7.3

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