Don't Cry, Butterfly

Although Tam works at a wedding hall, she’s no romance expert. In truth, her personal life is far from rosy. After another hard working day, her daughter Ha delivers the shocking news that Tam’s husband is having an affair. To make matters worse, his misconduct was caught live on TV, and now the whole world knows of Tam’s misery. As if to mirror her state, a leak in the ceiling of her aged flat grows out of control. To turn things around, Tam consults the “Master” to find ways of bringing her husband back to her through mystical means.

Following a series of short films centring on middle-aged women, Don’t Cry, Butterfly is director Dương Diệu Linh's debut feature. An extended study on the role of gender and cultural traditions in Vietnam, the film has a quirky and dreamy facade that is only a mask for deeper inquiries. Like the growing mould on her ceiling, also known as the monstrous House Spirit, these questions continue to loom and manifest over Tam, Ha, and all the women in their realm.

The incorporation of surrealism leads to a distinctive and captivating film, one that somehow manages to invoke absurdity, pity, and humour at the same time. As much as Tam seems powerless in the face of her suffering, her determination to take matters into her own hands is inspiring, no matter how ridiculous her methods might be.

JUNE KIM

Content advisory: depictions of suicide; sexual content