Viet and Nam – Movie Review

The year is 2001. Viet and Nam are two young men living in Vietnam. Both grew up without their fathers, who died in the war years ago. The war is over now, but life hasn't been easy in the post-war era. Viet and Nam are living in near poverty. They work as coal miners, a gruelling job that requires them to work deep underground. All day, they're down there with their equipment, digging up charcoal. The job is dull and dirty, leaving them utterly exhausted. Still, they keep working here anyway, since it's their only source of income.

Nam lives with his single mother, Hoa, in a tiny old shack in a rural area. She makes a living by helping him sell the charcoal to other residents. Hoa worries about her son's health, since working in the coal mines is dangerous and Nam can easily get injured. Nam breathes in so much coal dust that he speculates his lungs must be jet black by now. He also complains about vision problems, since spending so much time in the dark means his eyes aren't used to daylight. He even gets bits of coal stuck in his ears. He must have those pieces removed just to hear properly.

Hoa misses her dead husband dearly. They got married right before he was sent to the war. She was pregnant at the time, though he never found out. He never returned home. His body was never found. All these years later, Hoa still thinks about him constantly. She believes she has the psychic power to sense him. In her vivid dreams, she can see him clearly. Each time, Hoa describes these dreams to Nam and even draws pictures of what she sees. Her latest theory is that his body must be somewhere in a forest.

In the coal mines, Viet and Nam aren't always working. Sometimes, they slack off and just talk, exchanging random stories or chatting about life. Other times, they take advantage of the darkness. The two guys make out and have sex right there in the mines, where nobody can see them. They keep their relationship a secret from their coworkers, of course. Despite their naughty activities, they haven't gotten caught yet.

Hoa knows about Nam's close bond with Viet. She doesn't ask many questions. Instead, she simply invites Nam to bring Viet to dinner more often. It's her way of showing support without making a big fuss. Sometimes, Ba joins these meals too. Ba is an old war veteran who knew Hoa's husband because they fought together. Ba survived, but he lost one of his arms in the process. Hoa often asks him about the war, particularly anything related to her husband. Ba can still remember gruesome details, like dead bodies piled up everywhere.

Nam plans to leave the country, believing there are better opportunities abroad. He hears stories about other young men who leave and succeed elsewhere. Nam wants the same kind of future for himself, one where he isn't poor and stuck in a dead-end job. Still, Nam has a hard time leaving his mother behind. Hoa wants him to stay, even if they don't have much money. "Being poor isn't a sin," she tells him. Nam also doesn't want to leave Viet. He must decide whether it's worth chasing a future elsewhere or staying here with his lover.

I watched Viet and Nam with a knot in my chest because it's such a depressing movie. Like, I didn't expect a film set in post-war Vietnam to be sunshine and rainbows. But damn… the story is heavier than I expected. Both leads lost their fathers in the war. They're broke as hell. They work all day in a coal mine, which is wrecking their bodies. If I had to describe their situation, the word I'd use is hopeless. I can't see a future where the couple gets to be happy. Long before the final scene, I knew we were headed for a tragic story.

Viet and Nam captures the ugly reality of war and its long-term consequences. Each character is badly traumatized. This movie has many devastating scenes, which are raw enough to make you uncomfortable. I can't forget the conversation where the mother tells her son, "Being poor isn't a sin." I still think about her digging up her husband's body in the woods. Filmmaker Truong Minh Quy wants us to remember the suffering from a difficult era in Vietnamese history. Weeks after finishing the story, the painful moments replay in my head like nightmare fuel. I gotta admire a movie that can affect me this much emotionally.

Unfortunately, I was often bored throughout the movie. At two hours long, the story moves so damn slowly. The beginning is especially uneventful since the characters have such dull conversations. They mumble quietly. Then, they pause. More mumbling. More pausing. I'm sorry, but I've lost the last of my patience. Later on, the film picks up the pace and becomes quite emotional. But even then, there are still too many stretches where nothing exciting happens. Also, the angst doesn't help. Watching Viet and Nam is like signing up for two hours of misery.

The actors do a decent job, especially since they're all newcomers. That said, the characters are sad, tired, or defeated for the whole movie. We don't get to see much emotional range from them. As for the cinematography, colour me impressed. There are some visually striking shots! My favourite is at the beginning. The coal miners are underground, digging in a coordinated rhythm and looking almost like machinery. While the visual effects look cool, they drag on for too long. These atmospheric moments slow down the movie's pacing even more.

For such a sad movie, it's surprisingly racy! Both leads get naked and have a long make-out session. At one point, the dude licks anal blood off his lover's body. WHOA!?!? Besides that one wild scene, the couple's relationship isn't a major focus. Other storylines take the spotlight, so we don't actually get much romance. I know, I know… Viet and Nam isn't trying to be a love story. Even so, can't we highlight the couple's warmth or emotional intimacy just a bit more? We're missing the sweet moments, which could've added some lightness to this very heavy movie.

My favourite moment is the final scene, which ends the story in the most devastating way possible. In particular, that last image sends chills down my spine. Congrats, you've destroyed my emotions! Overall, Viet and Nam is a powerful movie with meaningful messages. Even though some parts can be boring, it's obviously made with a lot of thought and care. The fact that the Vietnamese government banned this film makes me wanna champion it even more. If you're in the mood for a serious gay movie with a unique story, Viet and Nam will leave a lasting impression.