Tran Anh Hung - 3-time Cannes winner thanks to his unique vision

Báo Quảng Ninh•29/05/2023

Throughout his more than 30 years in filmmaking, director Tran Anh Hung has earned acclaim for his aesthetically pleasing cinematic language, which helped him gain recognition at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival with his latest work, "Pot Au Feu".

It's no coincidence that Vietnamese filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike always mention Tran Anh Hung with admiration and pride. Partly because he is the creator of... The smell of green papaya (1993) – the first Vietnamese-language film to be nominated for an Oscar in 1994 in the category Excellent foreign-language film .

Furthermore, throughout his career, the director, born in 1962, has made numerous contributions, both large and small, to Vietnamese cinema, from teaching filmmaking classes to bringing the image of Vietnam closer to international audiences.

At Cannes 2023, Tran Anh Hung continued his rise to glory by winning the award in this category. Excellent director. What's particularly noteworthy is that exactly 30 years ago, he was also recognized for his debut work at this prestigious film festival.

Aesthetic style and poetic language

Each filmmaker has their own perspective and approach to cinema. For Tran Anh Hung, the most important element in a film is the visual language of storytelling.

Tran Anh Hung when his name was called at the Cannes Film Festival 2023.

"I don't think I make films because I know how to make them. I make films because I want to hone a very subtle and complex language. That is the language of cinema," the director shared in a filmmaking workshop. Toong Released in 2018.

According to him, it's something that inspires him greatly because it's challenging, but it also makes him "feel like he could dedicate his whole life" to the seventh art.

To master that language, Tran Anh Hung personally wrote the scripts for all the works he directed. But when he made his first feature film... In "The Scent of Green Papaya ," the director made a bold decision by using his native language, Vietnamese, instead of French.

The film's plot is simple, telling the story of a girl named Mùi, who works as a maid for two families in Saigon from the 1950s to the 1960s. Through each period, the character witnesses the changes in the lives of her employers, leading to many changes in her thoughts and actions.

Despite being set in Vietnam, Tran Anh Hung had to film everything in France. Language became the first thing that helped the film convey its Vietnamese essence. Faced with this situation, the director skillfully minimized dialogue, allowing the visuals to speak for the characters' hearts for most of the film.

Right from his debut film, The Scent of Green Papaya, Tran Anh Hung made a strong impression on both critics and audiences.

Responding to the magazine Bomb, The filmmaker stated that he wanted to “create a certain freshness and poetic quality in everyday life” through Mùi’s story. He said, “I want to create a rhythm for the film, a rhythm that I hope will represent a certain way of life in Vietnam, and through that rhythm to reveal the soul of the country.”

Therefore, Tran Anh Hung's debut film doesn't have too many dramatic climaxes. On the contrary, all events unfold at a surprisingly slow pace. Any drama, if present, is handled gently, creating a dreamy and ethereal feeling, reminiscent of the distinctive filmmaking style of the famous Japanese director Yasujirō Ozu.

Through Tran Anh Hung's lens, even the smallest actions of the characters become beautiful and romantic.

It was the innocent gaze of little Mui as she watched the sap trickle down the green leaves, amidst the melodious chirping of birds in her garden.

It was also the moment when Mui, now a young woman, gently applied lipstick to her lips, happily admiring herself in the mirror, unaware that someone was watching from afar.

Throughout the film, the director creates many beautiful and romantic scenes.

After In "The Scent of Green Papaya ," Tran Anh Hung persistently pursued an aesthetically pleasing filmmaking style in his subsequent projects. He executed... Cyclo (1995) and concludes the trilogy of films about Vietnam with Summer light shines vertically. (2000).

Since then, the director has filmed in many places around the world , from the United States, Japan, and Hong Kong, to France.

Nevertheless, the works associated with his name are always praised for their refined language. The frames often focus on detail and are highly symbolic, sometimes merely intended to evoke emotion, which may make them difficult for the general audience to understand.

Conquering the Cannes Film Festival three times.

Tran Anh Hung's works have competed at several major international film festivals such as Venice, Dubai, and Sydney. However, Cannes is where his name truly became known on the world map.

The filmmaker's first appearance at Cannes was when he turned 31. For the film "The Scent of Green Papaya ," the director was honored to win in two categories, including the award. Camera d'Or (Yellow camera) and Award of the Youth. Not only was it nominated for an Oscar, but the film also won the 1994 César Award for Best First Film. This is an admirable achievement for a director whose previous experience was only in making short films.

Seven years later, Tran Anh Hung returned to the Cannes Film Festival in 2000, but did not compete for the top prize; he only participated in a category. Uncertain Regard (Unique perspective) with Summer sun shines vertically. Although it didn't win, the film was still highly acclaimed and is considered one of the most important films in his career.

This year, Tran Anh Hung continues to bring his latest project to Cannes, titled... Pot Au Feu . The title refers to the traditional French beef stew. The screenplay, written by him and adapted from Marcel Rouff's novel, revolves around the relationship between a chef and a culinary expert, set against the backdrop of late 19th-century France.

In this film, Tran Anh Hung had the opportunity to work with an "icon" of French cinema: Juliette Binoche – a former winner. Outstanding Supporting Actress At the 1997 Oscars, the star played the lead role alongside her co-star Benoît Magimel.

Outperforming many competitors, Pot Au Feu shortlisted for the award Palme d'Or (Golden Palm Branch), and also received positive reviews from critics. Variety magazine considers this the most "radical" film on the nomination list, "beginning with a captivating nearly 40-minute cooking scene" and continuing with a romantic love story.

Of course, the film remains true to Tran Anh Hung's style with its minimalist plot and beautiful, poetic cinematography. His unique vision set him apart from the competition, leaving a strong impression on the jury – headed by Swedish director Ruben Östlund.

In his five nominations at Cannes, Tran Anh Hung won three awards, including a category that any filmmaker would dream of: An outstanding director . That is the result of more than 30 years of tireless and persistent work in pursuing a unique filmmaking language, since his first foray into cinema.

Images taken from Pot Au Feu - Tran Anh Hung's latest project.

At Cannes 2023, the director shared: "As a filmmaker, I felt like I was reborn in Cannes during the presentation." The smell of green papaya Thirty years ago, I was deeply moved to hear Vietnamese spoken at this film festival; the feeling is hard to describe. And today, I bring here a film in French.”

Throughout his career, Tran Anh Hung has had the opportunity to work with big names in world cinema, from "French muses" Audrey Tautou, Bérénice Bejo, Mélanie Laurent,… to Asian stars such as Tony Leung, Lee Byung Hun, Toru Watanabe,…

But it has also been a long time since Tran Anh Hung last made a film about Vietnam, collaborating with Vietnamese actors.

That causes The smell of green papaya It has become an unforgettable memory for film fans, especially those who love Vietnamese films.

Upon hearing the news that the director had been honored at Cannes, most viewers believed that this event would motivate and inspire many young filmmakers in Vietnam. At the same time, many also hoped for a Vietnamese-language film by Tran Anh Hung in the future.

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