A new Vietnamese horror-comedy film called “Don’t Cry, Butterfly” earned major recognition at the prestigious Venice Critics’ Week film festival. The movie, directed by Duong Dieu Linh in her feature directorial debut, collected both the grand prize and the award for most innovative feature. These honors mark an important achievement for the emerging Vietnamese film industry.
Set in Hanoi, “Don’t Cry, Butterfly” tells the story of a housewife who uses voodoo magic in a bid to regain her cheating husband’s love. However, her efforts inadvertently invite a mysterious presence into their home. Festival juries praised the film for its unique blending of genres and exploration of themes like womanhood, family, and culture. The main jury highlighted how the film creatively mixes elements of comedy, drama and fantasy. They also commended its portrayal of the complex relationship between a mother and daughter.
Director Duong is no stranger to international festivals. Her previous award-winning short films like “A Trip to Heaven” and “Mother, Daughter, Dreams” also blended humor with magical themes. Like her earlier works, “Don’t Cry, Butterfly” employs a quirky sense of humor to probe its topics. Younger viewers particularly connected with the film, as it won a separate prize for most innovative feature from a jury of critics under age 35.
Other notable winners included the U.S.-Switzerland co-production “No Sleep Till,” which depicted an impending hurricane hitting a small Florida town. It earned a special mention for its contemporary storytelling and stunning cinematography. The best indie production prize went to Italian-Iranian director Milad Tangshir’s “Anywhere Anytime,” a fresh take on a classic neorealist film. British-French filmmaker Jethro Massey’s debut “Paul & Paulette Take A Bath” took the audience award with a sky-high average rating of 4.5 out of 5. American journalist Michael Premo’s documentary “Homegrown” on Donald Trump supporters gained recognition with the best technical contribution prize.
The success of “Don’t Cry, Butterfly” highlights Duong’s talents and spotlights the vibrant Vietnamese film industry on the global stage. As the film continues its festival run with distribution from Barunson E&A, it aims to introduce international audiences to a new voice in world cinema.
