Sumptuously lensed by multi-awarded veteran director of photography Lý Thái Dũng, The Way Station is director Hông Ánh’s 10-year passion project and debut feature. Hông Ánh is highly influenced by Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai and is one of Vietnam’s most popular faces and leading actresses with a 20-year career that includes winning the Golden Lotus Award for Best Leading Actress three years consecutively.
Based on a short story with the same name by author Do Phuoc Tien and boasting an exceptional cast, the beautifully stylised The Way Station centres around the crumbling, isolated restaurant White Night and the different lives of those who live and work there, all from disparate origins and gathered in this little village by the sea.
Young Phuóc aimlessly wanders into the restaurant and with adept chopping skills is hired. He quickly discovers there is a mysterious and beautiful woman, Chu, the boss’s daughter, living upstairs. Sharing the living and working space the family and eclectic workers struggle with their own loneliness and unfulfilled dreams. Soon a love triangle struggle commences centred around Chu, and jealousy, payback and violence occurs between Phuóc and the other young man. The boss finds out about his daughter’s secret sex life with the workers and the imperious Chinese descendant father, expertly played by Hoàng Phúc, does an unexpected thing.
Woman at Home (Singapore, 2017, 12 minutes) short film directed by Megan Megan Wonowidjoyo will screen before feature.
Wednesday 30th August
91 min
15+
Film Festival
