Movie Review Coolie Never Cry
Cu Li Khong Bao Gio Khong is the first feature film by director Pham Ngoc Lan, belonging to the "art house" genre. The film is full of psychological and family elements, telling touching and complex stories between the characters. The cast includes People's Artist Minh Chau, Hoang Ha, Ha Phuong, Xuan An, Kieu Trinh, Thanh Hien, Quoc Tuan, Thuong Tin, Phi Linh, and talented child actors such as Tam Anh, Minh Anh, Minh Dat, Mai Chi, Tuan Khang, Mint... Each person plays an important role in portraying the emotional relationships and psychological movements of the characters.
The film explores the generation gap in a unique way.
Pham Ngoc Lan chose Hanoi from the 1990s to 2010s as the setting to tell a story about people caught in the midst of time's upheavals. The story revolves around Mrs. Nguyen (People's Artist Minh Chau), a woman who returns to Hanoi after her husband passes away abroad, bringing with her a young coolie. She lives in a state of limbo between the past and the present, between nostalgic memories and a new, turbulent life. Mrs. Nguyen has to face a big generational gap, especially in her relationship with her disabled niece Van, who is pregnant with her boyfriend Quang and is hastily preparing for her wedding.
The disagreement between Mrs. Nguyen and the younger generation, especially Van and Quang, is a recurring theme in the film. Iconic situations, such as Mrs. Nguyen’s anger when others call the coolie by the wrong name, or her forbidding her granddaughter from crying because, in her opinion, the older generation is not allowed to be weak, all reflect the deep conflict between old and new values. She also strongly opposes Van’s hasty decision to marry, worrying that she will repeat the same mistakes in life that she has experienced.
The situation of Mrs. Nguyen, an elderly woman who is not understood by the younger generation, is a highlight of the film, reflecting the alienation of people in a rapidly changing society. Meanwhile, the relationship between Van and Quang shows uncertainty and anxiety about the future. Although both are young and ambitious, their love evokes a sense of precariousness, as the future remains unclear.
The film, though not overly complex in its plot, still skillfully depicts multidimensional relationships and gives viewers the opportunity to reflect on change, on conflicts between generations, and the complex aspects of life in the context of a changing society.
The film is a wavering memory between reality.
The film Coolie Never Cries contains many profound metaphors when telling the story of Mrs. Nguyen, an old woman returning to her hometown, and at the same time the journey of maturity of the next generation — her granddaughter, who is pregnant with her first child. The flow of time in the film is depicted through Mrs. Nguyen's memories and the image of the Da River that never stops flowing, as a symbol of the constant movement of life. The film emphasizes that humans, whether they want it or not, cannot hold back or slow down time, nor can they interfere with the changes of the times.
Even the coolie that Mrs. Nguyen loved and cared for would change over time, reflecting the fact that everything must face change. No matter how beautiful the memories are, they are ultimately just vague regrets. Life always goes on, constantly changing, just like its nature.
People's Artist Minh Chau, who plays Mrs. Nguyen, praised the script by director Pham Ngoc Lan, especially the fact that the film uses little dialogue, requiring imagination and deep feelings from the actors. When portraying Mrs. Nguyen, People's Artist Minh Chau chose to portray the character mainly through her eyes, through silent and thoughtful moments, bringing to the audience feelings of loneliness and desolation about the past and history.
Summary of the movie Coolie Never Cries
Pham Ngoc Lan's Coolie Never Cries is a cinematic work that is both dreamy and quiet, full of simple beauty but also full of hidden mystery. The film blends fantasy and abstraction, creating a special space, both real and vague. Using black and white, the film brings a deep, subtle feeling, while choosing a unique and different way of telling time. All emotions and internal conflicts are resolved in a subtle way, mainly through the female protagonist, through moments of silence and deep contemplation, making the viewer immersed in a world of intertwined emotions and memories.
Information about the movie Coolie Never Cry
Overview of the movie Coolie Never Cry
Cu Li Never Cries is an independent drama film, released in 2024. The film is directed by Vietnamese director and screenwriter Pham Ngoc Lan, with the participation of Tran Thi Bich Ngoc and Nghiem Quynh Trang (co-screenwriter). Phan Dang Di takes on the role of creative director, while the main cast includes People's Artist Minh Chau, Ha Phuong, Ngo Xuan An, Hoang Ha, Cao Sang and Thuong Tin.
The film premiered on February 20, 2024 at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, in the Panorama section. Here, Cu Li Khong Bao Nhat Khoc won the GWFF Award for Best First Film. The film will then be widely released in theaters nationwide on November 15, 2024, through exclusive distribution by CJ CGV Vietnam.
Movie details:
Director: Pham Ngoc Lan.
Screenplay: Pham Ngoc Lan, Nghiem Quynh Trang.
Producer: Nghiem Quynh Trang, Tran Thi Bich Ngoc.
Cast: Minh Chau, Ha Phuong, Ngo Xuan An, Hoang Ha, Cao Sang, Thuong Tin.
Cinematography: Vu Hoang Trieu, Nguyen Vinh Phuc, Nguyen Phan Linh Dan.
Film Editing: Julie Béziau.
Music: Tran Kim Ngoc.
Manufacturer:
Cadence Studio (Vietnam).
An Nam Productions (Vietnam).
Purple Tree Content (Singapore).
E&W Films (Singapore).
Acrobates Films (France).
Epicmedia Productions (Philippines).
Ape & Bjorn (Norway).
Storm Films (Norway).
Distributor: Square Eyes Film (international), CJ CGV (Vietnam).
Release date:
February 20, 2024 (Berlin International Film Festival).
July 4, 2024 (DANAFF).
November 15, 2024 (Vietnam).
Duration: 93 minutes.
Country: Vietnam, Singapore, France, Philippines, Norway.
Language: Vietnamese.
Budget: $572,000.
Cast of the movie Coolie Never Cries
People's Artist Minh Chau plays Mrs. Nguyen.
Ha Phuong as Van, Mrs. Nguyen's niece.
Ngo Xuan An as Quang.
Hoang Ha as a waitress at Club Thien Duong.
Cao Sang as Quang's best friend.
Tam Anh as baby Tam Anh.
Thuong Tin as Mr. Sinh.
Meritorious Artist Thanh Hien plays Mrs. Sinh, Quang's mother.
Nguyen Van Thai as the head of the family.
Meritorious Artist Quoc Tuan as a former colleague.
Kieu Trinh plays the role of the owner of a pet shop.
Phi Linh as a jewelry store employee.
Review of the movie Coolie Never Cry
The story of Coolie Never Cries focuses on the character of Mrs. Nguyen (People's Artist Minh Chau), an elderly woman who always tries to maintain a connection with the past. After completing the funeral for her deceased husband in Europe, she returns to Vietnam, bringing with her an urn of ashes and a coolie — the last relics of her husband. While her mind is disturbed by distant memories, she receives news that her niece (Ha Phuong) has to hastily organize a wedding to hide her pregnancy with her younger boyfriend.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the young generation in the present, Mrs. Nguyen is lost in her memories. When she meets a young man (Hoang Ha) at a familiar tea room, she begins to face her inner conflicts and finds the motivation to not only solve her own problems, but also to reconnect with her old friends.
Source: https://baodaknong.vn/review-phim-cu-li-khong-bao-gio-khoc-tuyet-doi-dien-anh-cua-viet-nam-234513.html
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