MONSOON

UK, 2019, 85 minutes, Colour
Henry Golding, Parker Sawyers, David Tran, Molly Harris.
Directed by Hong Khaou.


The title of the film comes up on screen 13 minutes into the narrative. And the rains and the suggestions of monsoon come only at the end. However, monsoon describes weather in south-east Asia, in Vietnam, the possibilities for destruction, but the rain and cleansing, and then recovery and efforts in building up again.

The audience is invited to gaze initially at the traffic in Vietnam, from above, the cars, the myriad bikes, the intersections and vehicles crossing. Then the streets, travel in taxis, travel on the backs of motorbikes – which audiences who have visited Vietnam will easily identify with.

But, the screenplay invites the audience to identify with Kit (Henry Golding from The Gentleman, Crazy Rich Asians). He has sold up his business in the UK where he has grown up. He is bringing his mother’s ashes to Vietnam, and his brother will bring the father’s ashes and they will scatter them. But, for Kit, it is a journey into the past (though he was six when his parents left Vietnam). It is a search for his heritage, wandering around Ho Chi Minh City, absorbing the atmosphere, visiting the young man who is like his cousin from the past, who now has his own business, built on the money that Kit’s mother had lent him. The two do some searching together.

It should be emphasised that this is a very introspective film. While we travel and share with Kit, we are continually invited to identify with his questing, his reflections, the range of moods, although he is a very genial and gentle character (and Henry Golding is blessed with a very genial smile and personal composure).

It is probably best to suggest that the film is “unhurried� – which means that it will not appeal to audiences who are in a hurry, were anxious for plenty of narrative development, for action, like quick editorial cuts and pace. Some audiences, inpatient, will not take the time (or realise, perhaps), that they need to sit back, share in the introspection, discover some subtleties of character, some nuances in Kit’s story.

While Kit is a loner, we see that he does crave companionship, going to bars, encountering men who are congenial, some one night stands – although, in Ho Chi Minh City, he encounters an African-
American businessman (Parker Sawyers who played Barack Obama in Southside with You). There are enjoying each others company, talking, sharing their life stories – and with Lewis conscious of his father fighting in Vietnam and the tragic consequences. This may be the companionship and relationship that each of them is seeking.

In the meantime, the audience shares a train journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi with Kit, looking at the countryside, passing through towns and cities.

The director, Hong Khaou, was born in Cambodia, has worked in the UK (in a sense, his previous film, quilting, serves as something of a prelude to Monsoon). He has directed many short films exploring and dramatising homosexual relationships.

For audiences who are prepared to sit back, observe, reflect, empathise, appreciate different cultures, this is quite a personal journey.


1. The title? Coming on screen after 13 minutes? Weather in Vietnam? The rain arriving at the end of the film?

2. The work of the director, born in Cambodia, his themes of Asians, migrants to the UK? Issues of homosexuality?

3. Vietnam in the 21st-century? The long history? The impact of the war? Those who fought and died part of previous generations? Vietnam for the younger generations? Memories of the war, forgetting the war? The search for prosperity?

4. Kit, his background, his parents coming from Hanoi, his father and his work for the officer from the south, the mother and her concern, the two boys, their neighbours, like aunt and cousin? The parents’ decision to leave? The choices, going to the UK? Life there, never returning to Vietnam? Kit and his bringing his mother’s ashes, his brother bringing his father’s ashes?

5. The audience visiting Vietnam with Kit? Seen through his eyes? (Or the experiences of audiences who have visited and travelled in Vietnam?) The immersion in Ho Chi Minh City, memories of Saigon? Travelling by train through the countryside, the country and fields, the towns and cities? The discussion with the Frenchman on the train? The visit to Hanoi and impressions of the city?

6. Kit, his work in animation, IT, selling of his business, travelling, the decision to revisit Vietnam, his mother’s ashes and the search for a location? His age, genial personality, courtesy, gifts for his cousin and mother, the tours of the city, the meeting with Linh, the arts discussions?

7. His visiting his cousin, the welcome, the gifts, the shop, Kit not speaking Vietnamese well, the welcome from the mother, his meeting up with his cousin, at the shop, the meal, exploring the city and searching out past sites together?

8. His going to the bar, the encounter with Lewis, the return to the apartment, the liaison? Meeting Lewis at the exhibition? The further encounters, the relationship? The discussions, getting Lewis to talk about the US, his leaving, his company, business, his mother in New Jersey helping him? His father, serving Vietnam, his suicide? Lewis and his image of the US and his being an American? Taking Kit to the airport?

9. Kit, walking around Ho Chi Minh city, the old locations, the house and apartment, the pool, the company his cousin, their talking, the cousin owing money, Kit not wanting it?

10. The train travel, the encounter with the Frenchman? In Hanoi, the discussions with Linh? Searching out his parents’ home?

11. The return, the meetings with Lewis, a future together?

12. Going to the airport, his previous Skype communications with his brother and nephews, their arrival, Kit embracing them?

13. Kit’s future, in Vietnam?