BT1886

Boat People

“Why photograph people? They’re so ugly...” Three years after the “liberation” of Vietnam, a Japanese journalist revisits to photograph the state of the country and their “New Economic Zones” under its new regime. Vietnam was a fractured country following the war, one in which communism took over with ease. What followed were years of government sanctioned attacks on “traitors” and camps in which to “re-educate” the misguided who dare question the great Ho Chi Minh. This led to the perilous decision by many to flee the country by boat — which led to the creation of the term “Boat People” (though this is commonly used to refer to the thousands that attempted to flee on the day America began pulling out). A powerful and often draining experience, Ann Hui paints a grim world her characters inhabit. Our protagonist, Shiomi Akutagawa, happens upon Cam Nuong, a local girl doing her best to take care of her two brothers and ill mother. This seems to be a recurring character trait the females in the films exhibit — one of caring and compassion and taking on the role of a kind of surrogate mother to the fallacious men we see. My biggest gripe with the film was some of the music did not fit the tone of the scenes, as well as the editing being a tad shoddy and the ADR was not the best. Regardless of all the technical shortcomings, Boat People’ssubstance is clear and effective which would make this an easy recommendation for anyone interested in this type of film, available on the Criterion Channel. Women Filmmakers (2021) (https://boxd.it/bxYb0)