Nevertheless, "My Child Tells Me, Dad" is a humane, healing story and a bright spot for Vietnamese cinema in early 2026.
Despite this being his directorial debut, Do Quoc Trung boldly chose a circus as its main setting. It depicts the struggles of circus performers, facing danger to pursue their passion and earn a living. Although his wife tragically died during a performance, Mr. Thai (Kieu Minh Tuan), a tightrope walker, perseveres to support his son. However, his son, Minh (Hao Khang), is going through puberty and exhibiting psychological instability, even contemplating suicide. Mr. Thai tries everything to treat his son, from traditional and Western medicine to exorcism, but his condition doesn't improve. When he finds a seemingly trustworthy psychological therapy center, the cost is prohibitively high. Mr. Thai risks his life in a talent competition hoping to win first prize to pay for his son's treatment. However, things spiral out of control…
The conflict and distance between father and son have been explored in many films, but "My Son Tells His Father" takes a new approach: exploring the struggles of a circus performer and the tragedy of having a family member suffering from depression.
The film celebrates circus performers by portraying the beautiful, vibrant images on stage during their performances, as well as the rigorous training and the sacrifices they make that not everyone understands or sympathizes with. For Mr. Thai and his son, the death of his wife in a performance accident created a psychological shock and a lingering pain in their hearts. This is also the underlying reason why Minh's thoughts and actions become increasingly unstable. Furthermore, differences in personality and life views cause the two to grow further apart. The father is strong and doesn't know how to express his feelings, only knowing how to work to support his son, while the son is weak and easily hurt. Neither understands the other's thoughts and even less how to talk or confide in each other.
The director skillfully creates conflict and pushes the relationship to a suffocating point, making viewers feel the father's helplessness and bewilderment at the son's unusual behavior and psychology. In this story, everyone is more pitiable than blameworthy. Although Mr. Thai is sometimes harsh with his son, seeing him tirelessly and exhaustedly trying everything to save him evokes pity in everyone. As for Minh, the reasons behind his unusual behavior are gradually revealed, giving viewers a better understanding of the character's psychology and the widespread problem of depression today.
What warmed the hearts of the audience was the father-son relationship, meticulously crafted by the director in every detail and situation, regardless of the circumstances. Mr. Thai did everything for his son, and Minh also tried not to become a burden to his father. The journey of healing the wounds was fraught with difficulties, but after the ordeal, they understood each other better, opening up a brighter future.
The authentic performances of the two main actors, Kieu Minh Tuan and Hao Khang, captivated the audience; the supporting roles played by Phuong Thanh, Le Loc, Quoc Khanh, etc., also left a lasting impression with their characters' personalities and portrayals of human relationships and camaraderie.
The film's drawback is its overly safe script. It's well-rounded but lacks originality. Audiences expecting a sudden plot twist or intense drama will not be satisfied. The ending also lacks explanation to clarify what happened after the accident, leaving viewers with unanswered questions despite the beautiful visuals.
CAT DANG
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/-con-ke-ba-nghe-gan-ket-tinh-than-a197521.html
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