The Vertical Ray of the Sun

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TITLE="Art House Films 20021"><U><B>Art House Films</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id358.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Movie Web Sites "><U><B>Movie Web Sites</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id1098.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IMAX Films"><U><B>Imax Films</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> The Vertical Ray of the Sun</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="501" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="495"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="495" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> .</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="575"><div> The Vertical Ray of the Sun **** (PG-13)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><div> Reviewed By Pam Singleton</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="549" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="545"><div> Bask in rays of the sun</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="580" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Lien: Tran Nu Yen-Khe </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Suong: Nguyen Nhu Quynh </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Khanh: Le Khanh</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div>  Hai: Ngo Quanq Hai</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Kien: Tran Manh Cuong</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div>  Quoc: Chu Ngoc Hung</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Tuan: Le Tuan Anh</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div>  Director/Screenwriter: Tran Anh Hung</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>: A humorous and intimate look at the lives of three sisters living in modern day Vietnam. Familial ceremony marks both the beginning and the end of the film, with the observance of the anniversary of their mother's death and one month later the gathering for their father's ceremony. In between a sensuous tale of secrets unfurls, much as a languid body might in the heat of the summer sun. </div> <bR> <div>  <B>Story Line:</B> The stage is set for the many intriguing scenarios to come when we first see the art and dance of awakening of a very attractive couple. He rises, turns on music, goes about the routine of opening the shuttered doors and lifting the veil of sheer fabric surrounding the bed; then begins a strenuous workout of chin ups on the bar suspended in the doorway. She slowly rouses from sleep, rises and opens the shuttered windows opposite overlooking a small plaza, slips into gentle stretching and tai chi movements, and asks what he'd like for breakfast. This is the morning ritual for Lien and Hai-sister and brother. Lien and Hai (Tran Nu Yen-Khe and Ngo Quanq Hai) live together in a small flat and are often mistaken for a couple, which delights Lien. Lien works in a café owned by their older sister and Hai is an extra in movies.</div> <bR> <div> Suong (Nguyen Nhu Quynh), the owner of the café in this busy city of modern day Hanoi, is married to Quôc, a photographer, and they have a young son called Little Mouse by everyone. Quôc is a serious, contemplative man, who takes beautiful photographs of National Geographic quality, but seems sad in his life. Suong has found a way to deal with this void in their lives.</div> <bR> <div> Their middle sister, Khanh (Le Khanh) is recently married to Kien (Tran Manh Cuong), a writer about to finish his first novel, but who is up against writer's block. They share young lovers' intimacies and a beautiful home, but each has a gnawing feeling pulling at them; perhaps the notion that they are missing something else out there, in the world.  </div> <bR> <div> These are contemporary women in touch with their sensuality.</div> <bR> <div> The ceremony honoring the anniversary of their mother's death is here. This is an important family affair, and the three sisters come together to prepare the food and themselves to remember their mother. It's a time for celebration of the deceased person's life, and they obviously enjoy each other's company. They share candid conversation as they prepare the traditional dishes, commenting on the crunchiness of certain foods as compared with some male body parts. Food as art is in play here. The colors and textures, and the care taken to arrange the tables, allows us to imagine the flavors.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> One curious thought remains with Suong, Khanh and Lien about their mother. There was a mysterious man in her life-perhaps a lover? They are not sure; but a week or two later Kien decides to go to Saigon to follow a lead on the man's identity. He speculates that it may break through his writer's block as well. What Kien finds in Saigon is temptation-and the ending for his book.</div> <bR> <div> Suong's husband, Quoc, takes off on a two-week assignment as well. He seems to arrive in an idyllic paradise, with beautiful landscapes, flowers and glorious bodies of water to photograph. We discover that he also harbors here a second family; and he is as miserable in these surroundings as he is in the city of Hanoi.</div> <bR> <div> Meanwhile, the three sisters are revealing, <I>and</I> concealing, secrets of their own. In a beautiful scene of two sisters quietly sharing intimacies, Khanh asks Suong if she has ever been tempted to be unfaithful; a sign that Khanh's thoughts have been wandering. Khanh does not tell her sister that she is pregnant. Suong reveals to Khanh only what she chooses; leaving out a very important piece of the puzzle that makes up Suong's current involvement. The arrangement Suong and her lover share is most sensual, a bit unusual and better left for you as the viewer to discover. Let's just say that very little conversation goes on.</div> <bR> <div> Lien and Hai continue their confusing game of relationship scrabble, although Hai tries to encourage her in the direction of her boyfriend, who's become frustrated. </div> <bR> <div> Quoc and Kien return to Hanoi just before it's time for the anniversary memorial honoring their wives' father. One month has passed, a full cycle of the moon, and lives are changing as well. Quoc has reached a certain resolve and Suong will respond. Kien has successfully completed his novel but has carelessly left a bit of incriminating evidence in his jacket pocket.</div> <bR> <div> Our journey through this month is filled with passion and humor. I think one message of this film is to remember to acknowledge and honor those close to us in life as well as in death.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It</B>: Director Tran Anh-Hung has captured our attention again, as he did with <I>The Scent of</I> <I>Green Papaya</I>, nominated for an Oscar as best foreign film in 1994. Tran Nu Yen-Khe, his wife, is featured here as Lien, and also starred in <I>Green Papaya.</I></div> <bR> <div> Many sensory pleasures are awakened in <I><B>The Vertical Ray of the Sun; </B></I>the food, the beautiful photographs, the many images of water, the heat and other more carnal pleasures as well. Mark Lee Ping-Bin's cinematography is magnificent. And each piece of music that's played sets just the right tone.</div> <bR> <div> Nguyen Nhu Quynh is sensuous and surprising in her portrayal of Suong. Chu Ngoc Hung as her husband Quoc allows his face to wonderfully convey the strain of the life he has chosen to lead. Le Khanh and Tran Manh Cuong as the beautiful couple Khanh and Kien effortlessly slip into their lovely and comfortable surroundings.</div> <bR> <div> There are times throughout the film when each of these characters appears <I>un solitaire</I> or with one or two others in portrait-like settings. The beauty of some of these images made me sigh. Allow yourself the joy of seeing <I><B>The Vertical Ray of the Sun.</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div>   Not Rated</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> Pam Singleton © 2001</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <A HREF="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com"><U><U>pam@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Mini Filmography </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="286"><div> Tran Nu Yen-Khe: <I>The Scent of Green Papaya</I></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><div> Chu Ngoc Hung: <I>Three Seasons</I>, <I>Indochine</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="286"><div> Tran Anh Hung: <I>The Scent of Green Papaya</I></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="38" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="286" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>