A recent war movie has outshone some of the classics from the genre with its high ratings. It has been dewcribed as a “masterpiece” and holds a near perfect 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Viet and Nam is a romantic drama written and directed by Trương Minh Quý and released in 2024. Starring Thi Nga Nguyen and Daniel Viet Tung Le, the film tells the story of two coal miners who are lovers. The film was actually banned in Vietnam due to its portrayal of the country as “gloomy, deadlocked, and negative view”.
The film’s synopsis states: “In the depths of the underground coal mines, where danger awaits and darkness prevails, Nam and Việt, both young miners, cherish fleeting moments, knowing that one of them will soon leave for a new life across the sea. But the departure cannot happen as lying somewhere deep within the earth, in the far-off forest is Nam’s father, a soldier, whose remains they’re compelled to find. Together, following the mysteries of memories and dreams, they retrace the path to the past.”
Viet and Nam was nominated for various awards at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, including the Queer Palm and has been highlighted in many other film festival catalogues.
With that near-perfect 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie is rated higher than the likes of Saving Private Ryan, which has received a 94% score and Dunkirk, which holds a score of 92%.
The critics consensus states: “Patiently paced and drenched in melancholy atmosphere, Viet and Nam is a quietly affecting love story that gently pulls at the heartstrings.”
One critic said: “Writer-director Trương Minh Quý and cinematographer Son Doan impart the dreamlike quality of the story into the visuals: the camera sits a bit removed and untouched in moments of conversation or shows vast, abstract visuals of the sea and surroundings.”
One fan of the film described it as a “masterpiece”, while another added: “Quite an entrancing tale. Director Minh Quy Truong offers an interesting tale of queer romance, identity, and the spirit of the Vietnam landscape with gorgeous colors, sound designs, and poetic dialogue that lingers throughout the tale. Truong doesn’t shy away from the slow-burn, yet, beautiful poetic nature of it’s writing and atmosphere, establishing some wonderful shots, vibe and an interesting character observation between the two main leads.”
Viet and Nam is available to stream now on MUBI.