The fruitful cinematic relationship that Vietnamese Americans have fostered with their motherland in recent years is ably continued with Stephane Gauger’s feature debut. While the film’s central narrative mirrors that of many a Hollywood love story—a young child strives to forge a romantic relationship between two lonely adults—the characters and their circumstances add up to much more: a thoughtful portrait of contemporary Vietnam. Thuy, a young orphan who lives with her demanding uncle, runs away from her rural home for the streets of Saigon, where she meets Lan, a flight attendant having a doomed affair with a married man, and Hai, a zoo employee who has little contact with anyone except for his beloved elephants. Thuy evades officers who round up derelict children for local orphanages and balances her time between her two new friends. Constantly scolded for “asking too many questions,” Thuy learns of Lan’s and Hai’s personal lives and sets out to unite them, despite their class differences. Gauger’s film, full of rich, compelling, compassionate characters, does not shy away from romantic sentiments. It is most remarkable, however, for its peek at the children who populate Saigon’s streets. Though supposedly alone, they form a network that thrives on mutual support and respect. —Jonathan L. Knapp, San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.

Written by Stephane Gauger. Photographed by Stephane Gauger. With Cat Ly, Le The Lu, Pham Thi Han. (97 min, Annam Pictures)