Surname Viet Given Name Nam

synopsis

The documentary focuses on the status of women in Vietnamese society, both historically and in the present day. It challenges dominant narratives simply by giving space to women’s voices and their subjective experiences. It combines the testimonies of Vietnamese women and the stories of female immigrants with archival material, folklore, prose and poetry. Through these diverse sources, it offers a critical perspective on Vietnamese society’s relationship with women. At the same time, through historical testimonies and deliberately staged scenes, the documentary explores the pitfalls of language as a tool for shaping identity and social memory.

 

“Men want to grab a bigger slice of the pie. They hold key positions of power, while women are left with nothing but crumbs.”

biography

Trinh T. Minh-ha is a filmmaker, writer and composer, and Distinguished Professor of the Graduate School at the University of California, Berkeley. Her work includes nine feature-length films, which have been honored with over seventy retrospectives around the world, large-scale installations and numerous books, including Elsewhere, Within Here (2011).

film details

director:	Trinh T. Minh-ha
cast:	Khien Lai, Ngo Kim Nhuy, Tran Thi Bich Yen , Tran Thi Hien , Lan Trinh
producer:	Jean-Paul Bourdier
script:	Trinh T. Minh-ha
editing:	Trinh T. Minh-ha

contact

María Vera / Kino Rebelde
distribution@kinorebelde.com