The Vertical Ray of the Sun
dir. Trần Anh Hùng · 2000
Life is a delicate interplay of love and connection that shapes our experiences and memories.
"The Vertical Ray of the Sun" invites viewers into a mesmerizing tapestry of family life, where love and loss intertwine amidst the backdrop of Hanoi. Trần Anh Hùng’s exquisite visual storytelling captures the ephemeral beauty of everyday moments, creating an intimate journey through memory and longing.
Hanoi comes across almost picture-perfect in director Tran Anh Hung's beautiful, elegiac tale about the lives and loves of three Vietnamese sisters. A mood characteristic of Hung's films is set early on with the vivid sounds of birds, insects and water and the way the lighting enhances the subtle use of color. They all combine to gem-like effect here.
Full synopsisspoilers
With the brilliant Vietnamese summer as a setting Vertical Ray of the Sun is beautiful from beginning to end. The plot centres around three sisters, two of whom are happily married (or so it appears). The youngest sister is single and living with her cute older brother, whom she is desperately in love with. A second sister is married to a man who has another woman and child elsewhere whom he loves just as much as his wife -with a few conditions, she agrees to carry on with the marriage.
The third sister and her husband are overjoyed to discover she is pregnant, and though he is tempted, her husband remains loyal to her. Charming, slow-paced, face value, family saga film.
Talking points
- the significance of family ties
- the role of memory in shaping identity
- the aesthetics of everyday life
- cultural nuances in storytelling
