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of the Sun |
(2001 U.S.) |
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| Directed by Tran Anh Hung Starring: Tran Nu Yen-Khe, Nguyen Nhu Quynh, Le Khanh, Quang Hai, Chu Hung, Manh Cuong Tran, Le Tuan Anh Producer: Christophe Rossignon Screenplay: Tran Anh Hung Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics (Vietnamese with English subtitles) |
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Rating:  (out of )The Vertical Ray of the Sun is a film about the finer moments in life, in this case the slow, beautiful, cool mornings that entice all those who are awake to bask in its splendor, even if for only a minute. Cinematography and visual stimulation drive the film, not a plotline or character-driven study. There are long moments of silence, as characters merely stare out of a window, enjoy a cigarette, and ponder events that have long since past. This is director Tran Anh Hung's obvious visual style, as evidenced in The Scent of Green Papaya, one of 1994's best films. Eye candy, from lush greens to contrasting reds, encapsulate the feel of the movie from its opening credits to its closing scene. It's intensely relaxing, probably too much so for most moviegoers who have little patience for slow-moving films, and bludgeons the viewer into submission with its breathtaking scenes of confrontation between its characters in the backdrop of such beauty. The story revolves around three Vietnamese sisters, two of whom are married. The youngest, Lien (Tran Nu Yen-Khe), lives with her twin brother, Hai (Ngo Quang Hai). They love each other very much, as their constant share of a bed or silly chasing games would attest to, but never results in physical incest. The oldest sister, Khanh (Le Khanh), is married to a struggling novelist, unable to finish his book. She is pregnant, and is excited to tell her husband, but at the right moment. The third sister, Suong (Nguyen Nhu Quynh), is married to a photographer, curiously gone about half the time looking for rare species of plants to photograph. Slowly, each story unfolds, sometimes interrelated with the others in the family, and at times distant and cold. The mystery of the married men is revealed, and heartbreaking scenes between them and their wives s#006670 the picture. In between these moments, we are bombarded with shots of beautiful Vietnamese scenery, with each subsequent scene trying to one-up the previous one. It results in an interesting contrast, one that reminds us of the important things in life. Although the film has some distressing moments, it never deviates from its ordinariness. These are average people, living in average homes, in above-average surroundings. It rains a lot, is very hot during the day, but is cool at night and in the early morning. The scenes are peaceful, but never completely quiet. We hear the birds, the light traffic, even the breeze, and its easy to get lost in your own thoughts instead of paying attention to the movie. But maybe that's the point, to make the viewer ponder his/her own life, amidst the somberness of Khanh's and Suong's plights. A few scenes, including the confrontations between Khanh and her husband and Suong and her husband, are astonishing. The powerful nuances of their performances are remarkable, and its effectiveness is directly related to Tran Anh Hung's ability to weild these turbulent scenes in a brilliant visual style. In the end, The Vertical Ray of the Sun successfully walks a fine line between over-dependence on visuals and striking relationships that hint at a volatility seemingly impossible in the midst of their tranquil surroundings. It's worth investigating on a slow day that's filled with memories. © 2001 Jonathan Cornwell | |||
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| Masterpiece - Movie perfection |
 | Excellent - One of the best films of the year |
| Good - Recommended |
| Fair - Worth a look |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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