A great representation of the LGBTQ+ community in Vietnam, which previous generations have yet to come to terms with, especially with the lift of the ban on same-sex marriage in Vietnam 2015. This film follows the journey of a man named Nâu Vân who returns to his hometown, Mekong Delta, from the United States alongside his partner, Ian, for the anniversary of his Father’s death. Van seeks this as an opportunity to come out to his family who are yet to know of his true sexuality. Throughout the film, Van conflicts between fulfilling his caring yet close-minded mother’s wishes of getting a wife and having children as well as his duties to his family, in contrast to where his true happiness lies with - Ian. To further complicate things, while Van is attempting to find the best occasion to come out and seek acceptance from his family, Van’s grandmother, who has dementia, accidentally mistakens Ian as her grandson. These twists in the film cause the traditionally serious coming-out process to be portrayed as comical and lighthearted. Filmmaker Trinh Dinh Le Minh’s film draws a sense of familiarity and comfort to many of us who often find ourselves in uneasy situations where we are forced to pick a side and make a decision between our families and our lovers. The entire journey through the characters’ relationships, their ups and downs and bonds highlights the importance of one’s identity and is a realistic portrayal of the compromises queer people of colour have to make due to tradition, culture, patriarchy, etc.
Written by Julianne Wong. Edited by Geetanjali Roy.
Sources:
Vietcetera. (2019, September 05). Goodbye Mother - Van's Journey To Pursue Acceptance. Retrieved November 09, 2020, from https://vietcetera.com/en/goodbye-mother-vans-journey-to-pursue-acceptance
Goodbye Mother. (2020, August 17). Retrieved November 09, 2020, from https://queerfilmfestival.ca/film/goodbye-mother/
GOODBYE MOTHER. (n.d.). Retrieved November 09, 2020, from https://sdaff.org/2019/movies/goodbye-mother/
Vietcetera. (2019, September 05). Goodbye Mother - Van's Journey To Pursue Acceptance. Retrieved November 09, 2020, from https://vietcetera.com/en/goodbye-mother-vans-journey-to-pursue-acceptance