Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20096 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-12-18
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, Vietnamese
• Subtitled in: English
• Dubbed in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 112 minutes

Amazon.com
The lush, super-chic ambience of Tran Anh Hung's third feature, The Vertical Ray of the Sun, presents a beckoning, irresistible vision of Vietnam. The film opens with a sexy brother and sister waking up to the sound of Lou Reed's laconic voice on the stereo. They stretch, practice tai chi, meander toward a late breakfast, and playfully flirt with each other. This morning ritual--slightly disturbing but mostly alluring--recurs as a quietly resistant motif to the disappointment that awaits each character introduced. Shot on location in an impossibly hued Hanoi (lime green and chartreuse abound), the film trails after three beautiful sisters during the month that separates the anniversaries of the deaths of their mother and father. Attempting to protect the ideal memory of their parents' recently assailed love, the sisters recount kindnesses and joke with each other just as the serene charm of the café they run is to be overturned by an unexpected pregnancy and marital infidelities. Tran's lustrous style of collage is unique, pulling the viewer's attention away from imminent conflict and revelation to completely tactile and isolated moments. As with the titular subject of Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes," the sensual tension lingers on. --Fionn Meade

Customer Reviews

Never has trauma seemed so exquisite.
The plot of 'The Vertical Ray of the Sun' is similar to Edward Yang's last masterpiece 'Yi-Yi (A one and a two)' - the set-piece of a family reunion, with all its connotations of union, connection and continuity, followed by an inexorable unravelling, as marriages are shown to be fragile, women sexually unsatisfied, men spiritually empty, roads not taken rearing into view, self-identity shattered.

The treatment, however, couldn't be more different. Yang's austere long-shot long-takes are replaced by a meticulous sensuality - you can feel the summer, the langorous sun, the heavy rains; the ritualistic preparation of, to this viewer, exotic food, of dressing up, or simply washing; the lush vegetation and muddy Vietnamese streets; the play of light, especially reflecting water on solid surfaces, suggesting their instability, the fluidity of certainties; but also the spiritual hidden in the everyday.

The emphasis on see-through materials, like raincoats or mosquito nets, give a foetal resonance to a family drama encompassing death and birth, adultery and virginity, the secrets of the past and the uncertainties of the future, all the time celebrating a transcendent present tense.

Although a brilliantly acted, humanistic drama, concerned with real people, and genuine joys, comforts and crises, the film's mise-en-scene is so formally exquisite, the actors often seem to be simply a beautiful part of the decor (especially Tran Nu Yen Khe as Lien and Chu Hung as Quoc), evocative shapes and movements made abstract by the dreamy rhythms of the camera.

Vietnamese Cinematic Treat
This review refers to the DVD edition(Columbia/Tri Star) of "The Vertical Ray Of The Sun"...

This is a film that simply takes my breath away. Not only is it a captivating story, but how refreshing it is to view a film about the beautiful people and luscious land of Vietnam without all the atrocities of the war going on around the story. The brillant photography takes it all in, and under the exquistely artful direction of Tran Anh Hung we are treated to a visual feast.

This moving story revolves around three beautiful sisters, as they prepare a traditional banquet for relatives as a memorial to their mother. Each sister has their own hopes, dreams, and secrets. As their everyday lives gives us a glimpse at life in Hanoi, we can't help but to feel close to them, as one by one their stories come to light. The fantasies they share, the indiscretions they hide, and the love and support of this close knit family, combined with the scenic backdrop of the lush country will surely take you away to another world for a while. It is a world you may want to revisit often.

The DVD presents a fabulous look at it all, in widescreen, and with its rich colors. The sound has the choice of DD5.1 or 2.0, and surrounds wonderfully. Even the rain looks and sounds crystal clear. The language is in Vietnamese and there are optional English subtitles. There are some moments in the film where the sisters or other family members are singing, and it may have been nice to have susbititles for these as well, but to tell the truth, the voices and lullaby like quality of the music were so soothing, it doesn't really matter what langauge you hear it in.

This is a film for lovers of foreign films, romantic getaways, great storytelling and fine filmmaking.

Enjoy.....Laurie

Beautiful
What I loved most about this movie, apart from the wonderful performances, was its shear beauty. Director Anh Hung Tran's use of color has few equals. The film is bathed in various shades of blue and green, with just enough splashes of red and yellow to dazzle you. He also uses sound to great effect, whether it's birds chirping, rain falling, water splashing, or the lovely Vietnamese songs scattered throughout the film (you also get a couple of Lou Reed songs for good measure). While watching this film I had what Spalding Gray would call "a perfect moment" for 2 hours.