GOODBYE MOTHER

Vietnam, 2019, 106 minutes, Colour.
Hong Dao, Lanh Thanh, Vo Dien Gra Huy, Nsut Le Thien.
Directed by Trink Dink Le Minh.

During the first decades of the 21st-century, there has been some growth in Vietnamese cinema – and some of the films taking up the issues of sexual orientation, Vietnamese tradition, wariness of homosexuality.

This is the theme of Goodbye, Mother, but it is treated very gently, a way of storytelling that will draw in Vietnamese audiences and help them to understand something of homosexual orientation.

The plotline is fairly straightforward, a young man, Van, has spent years studying in the United States and returns home for his grandfather’s transfer of burying place. He is accompanied by his partner, Ian. The family, and the extended family with all its complications and tensions is shown, do not quite understand. And, especially at family gatherings, Van is pressurised to declare his intentions about marriage.

There is a comic complication with Van’s grandmother. She has dementia but remembers some things and is innately shrewd. She mistakes Ian for her grandson and wants him continually with her, confiding in him, but also noticing the kiss with Van. Eventually, he confides in her and she is supportive.

Much of the drama is with Van and his mother, a widow, managing the family business, clashes with her sister, the young flirtatious niece, an unmarried niece, the young friend of Van from school days but now drinking and with thugs – who eventually indulge in some homophobic bashing.

The challenge is to Van to explain to his mother – and an unexpected sequence where Van thinks he is talking to Ian through the bathroom door but his mother emerges.

There is some resolution, his mother unwell, but Van promising to organise her coming to the United States, as he and Ian returned to America.

It would be interesting to know more about how this film was received in Vietnam.

1. The Vietnamese story, in Vietnam, in the United States? Universal themes? Family? Sexual orientation? Coming out?

2. The Vietnamese setting, the countryside, the town, the fields, home, trading, celebrations, the field and the tombs? Middle-class family? Musical score?

3. The story of Van and Ian? The background in the United States, meeting there, living together, than having to return for his grandfather’s grave transferral, to tell his mother about himself, Ian agreeing to accompany him? The immediate attention at the airport? Joy at Van’s return? Puzzle about the presence of Ian? Travelling home, the extended family and the different responses? Settling into the room? The hard bed of the floor? The meals, the gatherings?

4. The portrait of Van, his Vietnamese origins, memories of school days, with Khoi, leaving, achievement in the United States? Hope for the future, uncertainties? And the portrait of Ian? Genial young man, personable, supportive? (And cousin Kim wanting to be near him, flirting?)

5. Grandma, age, the dementia, her tough manner, at the table, with the rest of the family? Her mistaking Ian for Van? Her wanting him present, in the room, on the bed, talking to him as if he were her grandson, even about the inheritance? Her liking for him? Her noticing the kiss, questions about it?

6. Van and his mother, her being supportive, the moving of the grave and the ceremony? Running the business? The drive and Ian and Van with the deliveries? The sister, her accusations about money, the inheritance, her bad history of gambling? The sales of the fake medicines? Van and his mother burying them? The strong stances, Van offering money, his discovering her illness? At the celebrations, urging him to talk about his future? The eventual revelation, Van thinking he was talking to Ian in the bathroom, his mother emerging? Her puzzle? Her final acceptance? Van inviting her to come to America, promising to arrange the documents? Her work in the business – and her finally being seen learning to drive?

7. The daily dealings of the family, aunts and uncles, in-laws, the various jobs, with the work, the family difficulties, married and unmarried? Studies and exams? The deals at the stores, Khoi, past friendship with Van, drinking, spending the money, his drunken friends, homophobic, bashing Ian?

8. The intimacy between Ian and Van, in the room, the shower, the relationship? Ian and his being hurt, Van going off with Khoi and the friends, arriving home late, the tension between them, Ian and his stances? Yet his continued support?

9. The farewell to grandma, her still delighting in Ian as her grandson?

10. The drive to the airport, the wistful memories at the airport? The future?