The Scent of Green Papaya

About

The film won the Caméra d'Or prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival,[2] a César Award for Best Debut at the French annual film award ceremony, and was nominated for the 1993 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.[3] It was Tran Anh Hung's first feature film and stars his wife, Tran Nu Yên-Khê. It is also his first collaboration with Vietnamese composer Tôn-Thât Tiêt, who subsequently wrote the music for two more films: Cyclo and Vertical Ray of the Sun. Set in 1951 Saigon, the film follows Mùi, a young girl who becomes a servant for a once-wealthy family struggling with poverty. The family depends on the mother’s small textile shop, while her husband repeatedly leaves home, wastes money, and has affairs. Despite the difficult household, Mùi remains quiet, peaceful, and curious, and the mother treats her with kindness after losing a daughter of her own. During his final departure, the father steals his wife’s savings and jewelry. When he eventually returns, he becomes seriously ill and dies, leaving the family in even greater hardship. Ten years later, the family can no longer afford to keep Mùi, so she leaves to work for the eldest son’s wealthy friend, who has become a concert pianist. The pianist is engaged, but his relationship with his fiancée is unhappy. He becomes increasingly drawn to Mùi, especially when he notices how her presence changes his mood and inspires his music. After the fiancée discovers their relationship, she angrily attacks Mùi and leaves her engagement ring behind. The pianist later begins teaching Mùi to read and write. (source: wikipedia)

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