You are here:

Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories

Name: Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories
Director: Phan Đăng Di
Released: 2015
Duration: 100 min

Representation Score

7.0/10

Good

2015

Director

Phan Đăng Di

Runtime

100 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Phan Đăng Di presents a sophisticated film that challenges traditional social and gender norms. By making queer identity central to the story, the film offers a deep inquiry into non-straight-centered relationships. The film is set in a specific Vietnamese context, providing an authentic and culturally grounded perspective. It uses the nighttime rhythms of Saigon to critique traditional societal structures. Despite being male-centric, the film avoids typical masculine clichés by emphasizing emotional complexity and sensitivity, creating a nuanced portrayal of masculinity that challenges conventional norms.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories have LGBTQ+ representation?

Excellent

The film focuses its entire storyline on the romantic tension between Vu and Thang, treating queer intimacy as a central theme rather than a minor subplot.

How does Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories portray gender?

Good

Masculinity is portrayed through vulnerability and emotional depth, challenging the idea of rigid dominance. Male characters are shown with psychological complexity and domestic sensitivity, breaking away from traditional stereotypes.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories?

Excellent

The film uses an all-Vietnamese cast to authentically represent the story's setting in early-2000s Saigon. This approach avoids a Western perspective and emphasizes the unique cultural context.

How does Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The story prioritizes personal emotions over official or religious moralities, exploring the tensions between tradition and modern urban life.

Does Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of physical or cognitive disabilities that play a central role in the narrative.

Present on Screen

Deep exploration of non-straight relationships and queer intimacy.
Culturally authentic representation through an all-Vietnamese cast and setting.
Challenges traditional masculine clichés with emotional complexity.
Sophisticated critique of traditional social and religious moralities.

Limited or Absent

The narrative remains heavily focused on male characters, limiting opportunities for female character development.
No prominent depiction of physical or cognitive disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Saigon, early 2000s. Photography student Vu has just arrived from Vietnam's backwaters and is immediately attracted to his handsome roommate Thang, who works odd jobs as a bouncer and low-level drug dealer. Entranced by the nocturnal rhythms of Thang's world, Vu follows him around the city where he meets Van, a ballet-cum-exotic dancer and Thang's sometimes-girlfriend.

How are these scores produced? →