The Sound of Nostalgia – Movie Review & Film Summary

The movie opens on Nghiem's wedding day. He stands outside a luxurious chapel in a sharp tuxedo, moments away from getting married. Strangely enough, we never see the bride's face. As the ring exchange begins, his reality starts to crack. The ring vanishes from his hand. The bride no longer exists. Even the guests disappear, leaving Nghiem confused and completely alone. He's unsure of what is happening to him.

Nghiem suddenly snaps into another reality. He's inside his car, driving through the city late at night. Nghiem pulls up to Hai Au's place, where his old friend quietly lets him in. Back in high school, Nghiem, Hai Au, Vu, and Mai Ly were a tight-knit group. There are even old photos of them hanging in Hai Au's home. Hai Au is caught off guard by the unannounced visit, but Nghiem offers no real explanation. He just felt like stopping by to see an old acquaintance. Hai Au doesn't question it. He simply agrees to let Nghiem stay the night.

Hai Au cooks a homemade meal, though the moment is interrupted by broken furniture and flickering lights. The house is clearly old, but Nghiem still offers to help by changing a lightbulb for his friend. They sit down and eat in near silence. Halfway through the meal, Nghiem starts to tear up. Something is clearly weighing on his mind. Hai Au doesn't ask what is wrong. Instead, he gently places some food into Nghiem's bowl. Nghiem appreciates the kind gesture and smiles through his tears. He returns the gesture by adding food to Hai Au's bowl as well.

Hai Au heads to his bedroom to sleep, but Nghiem invites himself in for a bedside chat. Their conversation drifts back to the past. Nghiem admits he used to be desperate to finish school, only to realize later that studying was the easiest part of his life. When Hai Au asks if he's doing alright, Nghiem finally opens up. He feels lonely, yet being surrounded by people makes him more anxious. Hai Au encourages him to focus on the positives. That optimism leaves Nghiem unsettled. He quietly asks, "How are you doing just fine without me?"

An uneasy silence settles between them. Nghiem gets out of bed and prepares to leave. That's when Hai Au suddenly tells him not to send a wedding invitation. Nghiem snaps back with a defiant reply, saying he doesn't have to show up. After Nghiem leaves, Hai Au is left alone with his thoughts. He stares at an old school photo of himself and Nghiem. Then, he slowly turns to face his reflection in the mirror. Tears well up. Hai Au finally breaks down, sobbing in the quiet room.

The Sound of Nostalgia is an angsty movie about two star-crossed lovers. However, it doesn't focus much on the romance. We see a few tender moments here and there, just enough to confirm the couple's feelings. The rest of the story is all about the heartache. These guys look at each other with so much yearning… Their voices get all soft and wistful…. They cry and suffer in silence… This film is as sad as the final act of a Shakespearean tragedy, but I wish it included more positive moments in their relationship.

At first, I found The Sound of Nostalgia kinda boring. The couple has many unspoken feelings, so they won't say what's on their mind. Every conversation sounds vague and cryptic as hell, which isn't always interesting to watch. That all changes near the end. When the couple gets into an intense argument, all those buried emotions come pouring out. OMG! Both say things designed to hurt each other. Whoa! They're going for the jugular with their words. The anger is so raw, making the scene super compelling to watch. Their conflict even turned violent, which scared me. But still, I couldn't look away!

The Sound of Nostalgia is filled with old decor and faded colours. Each scene feels like a distant memory, as if the romance doesn't quite exist in the present moment. Visually, this movie reminds me a bit of I Told Sunset About You. Both dramas have captured a dreamy atmosphere. Besides its beautiful appearance, the imagery also seems meaningful. We'll see mirrors, clocks, birdcages, or barred windows tucked between important scenes. These shots are there for a reason. The Sound of Nostalgia wants us to put on our thinking caps and dive into the symbolism.

Nghiem's actor (Mai Vu Luan) can be too theatrical. His emotions don't always feel natural, pulling me out of immersion in a few scenes. However, his co-star (Truong Cao Khoa) gives a great performance. I love the way he portrays Hai Au. His character comes across as so gentle and graceful. Those soft gazes… That delicate smile… The subtle expressions… Oh, I'm completely smitten any time this handsome lead shows up on screen. Vietnamese filmmakers, I'm begging you. Cast him in every BL drama you make. Chop chop! This man needs more roles!

The Sound of Nostalgia is only 30 minutes long, but it took me a full hour to get through it. Why? Because I immediately watched it again. The story has a twist ending, so I wanted to rewatch it to understand everything better. The second viewing changes my perspective. I'm rewatching the same scenes, but interpreting them in a whole new way. I pick up on little details that I missed the first time around. Most of all, it makes me think more deeply about what the film was trying to say. I love it when a BL movie pokes at the critical thinking part of my brain!

The ending is so devastating. My interpretation is that losing Hai Au has completely knocked Nghiem out of touch with reality. Every scene in this movie is just a hallucination, as he replays warped versions of his old memories. You might have a different theory on the finale, and that's the beauty of this open-ended film. Overall, The Sound of Nostalgia was certainly intriguing! I just wish it showed more of the couple's romance. We don't see enough of their relationship to make me fully invested in the story. Even so, it's a solid short movie that leaves a positive impression.