D Diep Hoang Nguyen | Vietnam, 2015
Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere (Dap cánh giua không trung) is a drama about a young girl grappling with an unwanted pregnancy. Her boyfriend abandons her to pay his gambling debt, leaving her to find the money for an abortion herself. Her transgender friend puts her in touch with a pimp and she falls in love with her client.
The director, Diep Hoang Nguyen does not shy away from showing the harshness of Vietnamese society, and shows brutal cock fighting rings and violence however much of this film is inherently beautiful. Lush green images of the Vietnamese countryside and mountains are shown using wide camera angles, which is contrasted with the cramped, dilapidated and over-crowded city scenes. There is a strong nature versus city theme throughout the film.
The film provides a contemporary view of Vietnamese society and youth culture. The film also does not portray the main character as a victim. She has the choice of getting an abortion after she makes some money, and is indecisive because of her affection for her client, it is however still her decision to make.
The acting and story were engrossing. The filmmaker’s choice of locations also worked well for the film creating a unique world for these characters. The narrative follows along the lines of a classical Hollywood narrative, with many causal events however the ending was rather ambiguous.
