Hanoi (VNA) – In a triumphant moment for Vietnamese cinema, "Mua Tren Canh Buom" (Don’t Cry, Butterfly), directed by Duong Dieu Linh, picked up two prestigious awards at the 2024 Venice Film Festival.
The film clinched the IWONDERFULL Grand Prize, accompanied by 10,000 EUR in cash, and the Most Creative Film award, judged by a discerning panel of critics under the age of 35.
The jury was unanimous in their praise, commending the film's unique blend of comedy, social drama and fantasy in portraying the intricate dynamics of a mother-daughter relationship. The accolades followed a thunderous 2.5-minute standing ovation after the film's screening on September 4.
The movie begins with Tam and Ha, a mother-daughter duo played by Tu Oanh and Nam Linh respectively as they confront a cheating husband and father after discovering his infidelity during a nationally televised soccer match. Desperate, Tam seeks help from an online spiritual healer in hopes of winning her husband back. But instead, she accidentally awakens a mysterious supernatural force within her own home.
The film seamlessly weaves together elements of comedy, horror, and the supernatural, offering a profound exploration of the fate of Vietnamese women. One of the central questions she grapples with is why women, both in real life and on screen, often have to endure so much suffering. Through her short films and her feature debut “Don’t cry butterfly”, Linh expressed her unique perspective and stance on this issue.
IndieWire's Josh Slater-Williams hailed the film as a debut rich in magic, filled with drama and captivating moments. He awarded the film a B rating, noting Linh's fearless approach to creating unforgettable images. "Linh is an artist to watch, particularly in this burgeoning era of Vietnamese cinema gaining recognition abroad," Williams wrote, likening her to notable filmmakers such as Pham Thien An and Truong Minh Quy.
Selected from 700 submissions worldwide, "Don’t Cry, Butterfly" was one of the seven films showcased at the International Film Critics' Week. This platform has previously launched the careers of esteemed directors like Kenneth Lonergan, Olivier Assayas, and Mike Leigh.
The film's success echoes that of Nguyen Hoang Diep's "Dap Canh Giua Khong Trung" (Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere), which won the Best Film award at the Venice Film Festival a decade ago.
Following its Venice triumph, "Don’t Cry, Butterfly" is set to captivate audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), often seen as a precursor to the Oscars. It will then be featured in the "A Window on Asian Cinema" programme at the Busan International Film Festival before returning home for a nationwide release by CGV.
Linh has released several short films focused on the inner lives of Vietnamese women, particularly those in middle and old ages, such as "Me, Con, Nhung Giac Mo" (Mother, Daughter, Dreams) (2018), "Ngot, Man" (Sweet, salty) (2019), and "Thien Duong Goi Ten" (A trip to Heaven) (2020).
Linh's debut feature not only marks a personal victory but also signifies a pivotal moment for Vietnamese cinema on the global stage. With its compelling narrative and unique artistic vision, "Don’t Cry, Butterfly" is a film that demands to be seen and celebrated./.
