Mai" is Tran Thanh's bold and intentional effort to delve into the hidden corners of a sensitive profession in Vietnam. The story, filled with concealed and obscured aspects of the character, shows both the light and dark in shaping a person's character, aiming to evoke empathy and understanding from the audience. I'm quite dismissive of criticisms that dissect the film for this or that reason (male gaze); directors have their intentions, and their right to make money and achieve success is their own. Therefore, I'm content with what the director intends to convey.
Moving on to aspects I think could be improved or done differently: the music, dialogue, and character development.
One aspect to reconsider is the overuse of music. Dialogue meant to deepen character exploration is already scarce, and there are hardly any quiet moments without music. In some films, directors use silence to let the audience process their emotions when needed. The film seems not to give viewers enough space to reflect on the story's development, with music playing almost continuously and unnecessarily in many crucial scenes, diminishing the impact those moments could have.
After Mai discovers her best friend is her lover's mother and returns home, there's a scene where Mai, in a red dress, stands in front of a mirror, repeatedly wiping off her lipstick with music playing throughout. If redone, this scene could provide ample opportunity for Phuong Anh Dao to showcase her acting skills, even though her performance throughout the film is already impressive. But if this was Tran Thanh's intentional use of music, then there's really no room for debate (because I think I understand why he used so much music to keep the audience focused on the film, hm...)
Regarding character development, the film lacks depth and full character development. Characters are only partially explored, about 70 to 80%, preventing a thorough connection between the audience and the characters. This accentuates the absence of climaxes in the film, making the viewing experience less dramatic and thrilling. Too many events happen in Mai's life, yet they are somewhat disorderly, allowing viewers to see the overall tragedy of this girl's life, but the portrayal is uneven, the colors are incomplete, and it lacks polish.
The dialogue, an important element in character building and story progression, also fails to meet expectations. The conversations lack depth and persuasiveness, resembling a standard dialogue that doesn't truly resonate with the viewer. I believe many would agree with me that some dialogues in the film feel awkward. I understand Tran Thanh's expectation for the film to be as realistic and everyday as possible, but often, I found myself wondering, "Who talks like this in real life?" If it hangs between reality and cinema, it sounds odd, somewhat clumsy, and immature. Some well-crafted lines or dialogue segments have been praised enough, so I won't reiterate. It's not bad, but it could be much better. With actors from the theater stage like Ms. Hong Dao, the dialogue tends to be highly personal and incredibly engaging.
The film's conclusion is handled relatively well, successfully aiming to move the audience. The nameless emotions accumulated from start to end are released in a sigh of relief. This shows that, despite many areas needing improvement, Tran Thanh still has the ability to create memorable and meaningful moments (though it seems a bit abrupt..)
In "Mai," Phuong Anh Dao deserves the highest praise. Her performance truly stands out, delivering a genuine and emotional portrayal. With her deep expression of pain and resilience, Phuong Anh Dao excellently depicts Mai as a strong and memorable character. Whether showing sadness, anger, happiness, or through gestures and facial expressions, everything is very real (and my favorite scene is Mai fighting, it's so enjoyable)
Overall, "Mai" is a film worth watching and experiencing on the big screen despite its criticisms. It clearly demonstrates Tran Thanh's ambition and vision in crafting a story that portrays tragedy as realistically as possible. However, Tran Thanh is just a director, and no matter how skilled, it's challenging to oversee all aspects well and find a team of equal caliber to enhance the film's quality. I'm satisfied with the story the director wants to explore, just not with the way it was developed and what has been explored. So, fairly speaking, for a casual viewer like me, Mai is acceptable It's not the kind of movie to get all hyped up about, but definitely not one to bash either.
Moving on to aspects I think could be improved or done differently: the music, dialogue, and character development.
One aspect to reconsider is the overuse of music. Dialogue meant to deepen character exploration is already scarce, and there are hardly any quiet moments without music. In some films, directors use silence to let the audience process their emotions when needed. The film seems not to give viewers enough space to reflect on the story's development, with music playing almost continuously and unnecessarily in many crucial scenes, diminishing the impact those moments could have.
After Mai discovers her best friend is her lover's mother and returns home, there's a scene where Mai, in a red dress, stands in front of a mirror, repeatedly wiping off her lipstick with music playing throughout. If redone, this scene could provide ample opportunity for Phuong Anh Dao to showcase her acting skills, even though her performance throughout the film is already impressive. But if this was Tran Thanh's intentional use of music, then there's really no room for debate (because I think I understand why he used so much music to keep the audience focused on the film, hm...)
Regarding character development, the film lacks depth and full character development. Characters are only partially explored, about 70 to 80%, preventing a thorough connection between the audience and the characters. This accentuates the absence of climaxes in the film, making the viewing experience less dramatic and thrilling. Too many events happen in Mai's life, yet they are somewhat disorderly, allowing viewers to see the overall tragedy of this girl's life, but the portrayal is uneven, the colors are incomplete, and it lacks polish.
The dialogue, an important element in character building and story progression, also fails to meet expectations. The conversations lack depth and persuasiveness, resembling a standard dialogue that doesn't truly resonate with the viewer. I believe many would agree with me that some dialogues in the film feel awkward. I understand Tran Thanh's expectation for the film to be as realistic and everyday as possible, but often, I found myself wondering, "Who talks like this in real life?" If it hangs between reality and cinema, it sounds odd, somewhat clumsy, and immature. Some well-crafted lines or dialogue segments have been praised enough, so I won't reiterate. It's not bad, but it could be much better. With actors from the theater stage like Ms. Hong Dao, the dialogue tends to be highly personal and incredibly engaging.
The film's conclusion is handled relatively well, successfully aiming to move the audience. The nameless emotions accumulated from start to end are released in a sigh of relief. This shows that, despite many areas needing improvement, Tran Thanh still has the ability to create memorable and meaningful moments (though it seems a bit abrupt..)
In "Mai," Phuong Anh Dao deserves the highest praise. Her performance truly stands out, delivering a genuine and emotional portrayal. With her deep expression of pain and resilience, Phuong Anh Dao excellently depicts Mai as a strong and memorable character. Whether showing sadness, anger, happiness, or through gestures and facial expressions, everything is very real (and my favorite scene is Mai fighting, it's so enjoyable)
Overall, "Mai" is a film worth watching and experiencing on the big screen despite its criticisms. It clearly demonstrates Tran Thanh's ambition and vision in crafting a story that portrays tragedy as realistically as possible. However, Tran Thanh is just a director, and no matter how skilled, it's challenging to oversee all aspects well and find a team of equal caliber to enhance the film's quality. I'm satisfied with the story the director wants to explore, just not with the way it was developed and what has been explored. So, fairly speaking, for a casual viewer like me, Mai is acceptable It's not the kind of movie to get all hyped up about, but definitely not one to bash either.
