DirectorD

10/10

This movie was a powerful gem. An amazing story of love and resilience, loss and hope, and above all else family. The cinematography bore some similarity to documentaries and helped tell the story through the eyes and voice of a child by the angles and elevations chosen. The pacing of the film was moderate almost imitating the walking pace of the characters in the film. The didactic and non-didactic sounds in the film made it feel completely authentic with no pretense showing the influence of other cultures on the local culture and psyche. This to some degree might help explain the greed in Thuy's uncle. The concept of family expressed in this poignant piece is the "family we chose", the ones who we care about that care about us. It was honest and pure in spirit and heart. Each character spoke truth into situation of another - holding up a mirror to it so that each of them can see it better. It sheds light on the life of street children to some degree and a system that does not always work in the best interest of the child. Her uncle personifies the id of Lan and Hai. He is not kind, generous, tender, loving, sensitive or selfless. His concern was how he was being perceived and not the welfare of the child that he was entrusted with. His aim was exploiting her and benefiting financially from her life and not making an effort to give her a quality life while preparing her for the future. He saw no potential in her. This aspect of his person is one of the chauvinist, sexist, ageist. This inequality between the sexes occurs a lot in many cultures. Overall the film leaves you inspired and hopeful because while showing some of the bad aspects of us as humans it was paralleled with the awe inspiring goodness that is inherent in us all.