VIETNAM

The film industry of Vietnam has been greatly influenced by the country's history of war. French Colonialism and the Vietnam War with America had a huge impact on the Vietnamese war industry.

During the war, the Vietnamese film industry was largely controlled by the government, and films were primarily used as propaganda tools to promote the Communist Party's ideology. Many films produced during this time portrayed the struggle of the Vietnamese people against the American aggressors and often depicted American soldiers as cruel and inhumane. One such example is When the Tenth Month Comes (1984) which tells the story of a woman who struggles to come to terms with her husband's death during the Vietnam War.

When The Tenth Month Comes (1984)

 

The Deer Hunter (1978) despite not being a Vietnamese film is regarded as one of the greatest war movies ever made. It gives the American perspective of the Vietnamese War and explores the psychological effects of war on the soldiers and their loved ones and the impact that the war had on the small town they come from.

The Deer Hunter (1978)

After the war, the film industry shifted towards more diverse and independent productions. However, the legacy of war continued to influence Vietnamese cinema, with many films exploring themes of trauma, loss, and recovery. The Scent of the Green Papaya (1993) is one such post-war movie which follows the life of a young Vietnamese girl in Saigon before and after the war. In the movie, the character of Mui is used as a symbol of the traditional Vietnamese way of life that was destroyed by the war.

The Scent of the Green Papaya (1993)

 

Today, Vietnamese cinema is a vibrant and rapidly growing industry, with a mix of commercial and independent films exploring a range of themes and genres. While the legacy of war is still present in many films, Vietnamese filmmakers are also creating work that reflects the country's changing social and political landscape. 

Sources:

1. Atlantis Press

2. IMDB