The film "The Other Side of the City" has garnered attention for exploring the painful dark sides of education and family life. Instead of following the typical coming-of-age school stories, the work chooses a more edgy approach to the problems of school violence, cyberbullying, and exam cheating.
The realistic storyline and emotionally resonant performances of the young cast helped the film receive thousands of positive reviews from the public right from the first episodes.
The hidden aspects of school life and exam pressure
In episode 4 of the series " The Other Side of the City ," Khue (Thai Vu) discovers that Tuyet Lan (Tu Quyen) once won first prize in a scientific research competition. Khue asserts that Lan cheated in the competition because the content of her research paper is identical to his stolen exam paper.
After airing, this clip attracted thousands of comments, with many saying the film addresses a pressing issue today: exam cheating and the obsession with academic achievement, which have left regrettable consequences and caused many people to pay a heavy price.
The film "The Other Side of the City" revolves around Cuong and Khue – two children growing up in a working-class neighborhood on the outskirts of the city with contrasting personalities. Khue is a "math star," shy and introverted, while Cuong is rebellious, playful, but loyal. Khue is a victim of jealousy and isolation at school, and Cuong always stands up to protect her, using his fists to handle every situation.
From the very first episode, the series is haunting with the scene where Khue tries to hide her bruised legs after being tripped by a classmate at school, silently eating dinner with her mother. The tragedy escalates when the bullying turns into cyberbullying. Khue's lack of a father's love is mocked by her group of friends with cruel words online.
Furthermore, the invisible pressures stemming from the obsession with academic achievement and parental comparisons of children create animosity among students, pushing many into psychological crises. Many viewers commented that the film is highly educational and cautionary, realistically reflecting the suffering of children struggling with school violence and cyberbullying.
“A good film, educational in the family and school environment,” “The film addresses the most pressing issues today,” “School violence has led to so many heartbreaking stories. Hopefully, the film will awaken many people,” “A good film, highly educational, we need more works like this,” “The script is realistic, the young cast performs well…” are some of the comments from viewers.
Vo Hoai Vu receives praise.
Besides the attention-grabbing plot, Vo Hoai Vu's performance as Cuong also received much praise from the audience.
Cuong is a rebellious, hot-tempered but emotionally sensitive student who always stands up to protect Khue and the vulnerable. Despite his tough exterior, the character carries many wounds and pressures from his family circumstances.
On film forums, many viewers praised Vo Hoai Vu's acting as if he "didn't act," with a natural, everyday style that evoked emotion. Many opinions suggested that the role of Cuong was one of the highlights of "The Other Side of the City" after the first few episodes aired. Some even compared Vo Hoai Vu's edgy performance to that of senior actors like Duy Hung, Doan Quoc Dam, or his father – Meritorious Artist Vo Hoai Nam.
Speaking to Tien Phong newspaper , Vo Hoai Vu said he spent a lot of time researching the character's psychology before filming began. The actor said he was restless, constantly practicing his lines and analyzing the character's psychology in front of a mirror to prepare for the role.
Vo Hoai Vu admits that deep down, he always has a wild, free-spirited side like Cuong, but in real life, he behaves more rationally because he has a happy family as a support system. Hoai Vu hopes to use his experiences and knowledge, gained through tears, to bring a realistic perspective that touches the emotions of the audience.
Through his role, Vo Hoai Vu also conveys the message that violence cannot solve problems but only makes things more difficult to control. He hopes that parents will have a more multifaceted perspective, instead of imposing their personal opinions on their children, and he hopes that viewers will continue to watch to have an objective assessment of Cuong's journey of growth in the following episodes.
Source: https://tienphong.vn/phim-ve-gian-lan-thi-cu-bao-luc-hoc-duong-gay-tranh-luan-post1848639.tpo
![[Photo] Prime Minister Le Minh Hung presides over the thematic session on promoting science and technology development and innovation.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/06/23/1782207872934_ndo_br_dsc-1724-jpg.webp)
