2023 Movie
Dir. Nguyễn Quang Dũng · Vietnam · French, Vietnamese
A striking, but meandering journey of a boy in 1940s Vietnam
Not to be confused with the old racist Disney movie, Song of the South is a carefully crafted historical epic based on the classic Vietnamese novel. Set in 1940s Vietnam, French colonial rule hangs over the main story, with the young An searching for his father after a tragic loss. It’s beautifully shot, capturing South Vietnam’s culture in ethereal countryscapes, blatantly nationalistic moments, and excellently choreographed fight sequences. Huynh Hao Khang also depicts An with a charm and charisma that makes his journey the most interesting to watch. However, his journey meanders halfway through, with each change in travel companion unsteadily shifting the tone of the film. Song of the South is an intriguing watch, but the structure, humor, and the CGI distracts from the poignancy of the original novel’s story.
As French colonial rule reaches a violent end in Vietnam, a 12 year old boy makes a treacherous journey in search of his estranged father.
1940s Vietnam. As the French colonial government and the Vietnamese rebels clash, 12 year old boy An takes a treacherous journey to search for his estranged father.
The format. As an adaptation of a classic Vietnamese novel, it makes sense to adapt it for the big screen with today’s tech, but the episodic nature of An’s adventures would have been better suited to television than film.
So. Much. CGI birds…
Oscars
2 wins · 1 nom
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
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