FNC – Hair, Paper, Water…

Les nouveaux alchimistes

“Following his stunning Viet and Nam (FNC International Competition 2024), Trương Minh Quý reunites with Nicolas Graux, with whom he previously co-directed the short film Porcupine. Madame Hậu shares her story: over 60 years ago, she was born in a cave, which she later left for a small village where she lives in harmony with nature. When she’s not searching for a plant that might help cure COVID-19, she visits her granddaughter, who has just given birth in Saigon. Then there is her grandson, left without parents. Between the tranquility of the forest and the bustle of the city, Madame Hậu dreams and remembers, seeking to pass on the fragile language of the Rục people. Enhanced by grainy images shot on a Bolex camera, a poetic dialogue unfolds between present and past, as immersive as it is captivating.”

Locarno Film Festival 2025 – Concorso Cineasti del Presente