- Actors: Tran Nu Yên-Khê, Nhu Quynh Nguyen, Le Khanh, Quang Hai Ngo, Chu Hung
- Directors: Anh Hung Tran
- Format: PAL, Widescreen
- Language Vietnamese
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Artificial Eye
- DVD Release Date: 25 Mar 2002
- Run Time: 112 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00005V4UI
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 28,680 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
At the Height of Summer is a film by Vietnam's most prominent director, Tran Anh Hung. It's the story of three sisters in present-day Hanoi: the youngest is just discovering sexuality, the middle one is about to have a baby but suspects her husband is having an affair, and the oldest discovers her husband has a child by a woman who lives in the country. In the course of preparing an elaborate meal on the anniversary of their mother's death, the three women discuss their lives and problems.
This is a film of great beauty and sensitivity, immaculately shot and owing nothing to stereotyped Western images of Vietnam. The radiant Tran Nu Yen Khe, star of Tran's first two films, The Scent of Green Papaya and Cyclo offers another great performance. One of the director's trademarks is a virtual obsession with food and its preparation. If you aren't hungry when you start this film, you will be at the end. --Ed Buscombe
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: Vietnamese ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Behind the scenes, Filmographies, Interactive Menu, Production Notes, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: From the director of Cyclo and The Scent of Green Papaya comes this tale of three sisters who live in close proximity in present-day Hanoi. Lien (Tran Nu Yen Khe), the youngest sister, shares an apartment with her younger brother Hai (Ngo Quang Hai) and works at a cafe run by oldest sister Suong (Nguyen Nhu Quynh). Suong is the wife of Quoc (Chu Hung), a photographer with whom she has a son. The middle sibling Khan (Le Khanh) is married to Kien (Tran Manh Cuong), a writer in the midst of finishing his first novel. Over the course of one month, the family is convened for the anniversary of the death of the sisters' mother and when reminiscing about their departed matriarch, they bring up the memory of a mysterious man who seems to have been part of their mother's past. Kien begins to look for clues about Toan's identity, and Suong reveals that she has been involved with another man. Lien is sharing sleeping quarters with her brother Hai while keeping track of her flighty boyfriend, and fantasizes about being pregnant. During their husbands' absences, Khan and Suong have a deep conversation about fidelity and reveal secrets they have kept inside for some time; when their husbands return, they begin to question their faithfulness and dedication to them. The Vertical Ray of the Sun screened at the 2000 Toronto International Film Festival. ...At the Height of Summer ( Mua he chieu thang dung ) ( À la verticale de l'été (Ein Sommer in Hanoi) )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Tran Anh Hung has given us a distinct impression of Vietnam through his films, and that impression is one of sensuality and beauty. Wheras in "The Scent of Green Papaya," the main focus was on nature, here Tran has turned his camera loose on human sensuality, in all its glorious incarnations. It is a dish seasoned with all the right spices, giving us a richly flavored and mystery filled dining experience.
The story revolves around three beautiful sisters of various ages, living together as a family unit. Two sisters are married and one of those has a child. Together with a younger brother, an extended and supportive family unit is formed in Hanoi. As Tran captures the beauty outside of their home, however, he begins to focus on what lies beneath the surface, and what begins as a tiny sprinkle, becomes a steady rain of sensuality.
The outward happiness and tranquility of this extended family belies what Tran shows us, pulling back the curtain slowly to reveal deep secrets and shocking deceptions. Always present, is the sisters' search for the truth regarding the romance of their parents, which is shrouded in mystery.
Ravishingly beautiful Tran Nu Yen Khe portrays the single sister, Lien. She and her 'big brother' have a flirtatious and teasingly erotic relationship that causes many on the streets of Hanoi to believe they are a couple. Only in the final moments of this film will we come to understand a sensual family history is repeating itself.
The lush foilage of Vietnam and the lovely city of Hanoi are wonderfully brought to life by Tran, and an excellent sountrack enhances the unique atmosphere of another impressionistic rendering of a place and its people by one of the great directors. Perhaps Tran's greatest achievement here, however, is a feeling of sensuality you can almost touch. Once again he has turned a movie into a film, and that film into art.
You can not go wrong purchasing this Vietnamese delicacy. The Vertical Ray of the Sun is shining straight down on the human heart.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A wonderful film by master director Tran Anh Hung who gave us a series of equally well directed productions.
This film is all about human relations blend with wonderful music and an exceptional photography.
The actors took up their roles in a balanced way with each one able to show his/her best while at the same time to complement each other in a harmony of acting.
The music is spectacular combining well-chosen western music and Vietnamese.
It is of a particular importance to notice the sound of this film. Background sounds and effects strengthened by splendid photography make the viewer to feel the heat of the tropics, the rain and humidity and the coolness of the garden of the backyard.
But the most important aspect is the human relation, all presented for what they are in real life. While able to strengthen the virtues of fidelity does not condemn infidelity, while praising family ties and values does not shy away from questioning believes.
The photography is superb with the director of photography able to capture the sun, the bight areas and combine them perfectly with shades.
The contrast of the clean spotless dresses in bright colours with the run down walls of a city in the tropics is something one can notice and appreciate.
The collection of small details of the daily life that could have gone unnoticed become through the photography part of the beauty of this film.
The music is acting also as a tool of symbolism and one must pay attention to the beautiful group singing.
This film is all about human relations blend with wonderful music and an exceptional photography.
The actors took up their roles in a balanced way with each one able to show his/her best while at the same time to complement each other in a harmony of acting.
The music is spectacular combining well-chosen western music and Vietnamese.
It is of a particular importance to notice the sound of this film. Background sounds and effects strengthened by splendid photography make the viewer to feel the heat of the tropics, the rain and humidity and the coolness of the garden of the backyard.
But the most important aspect is the human relation, all presented for what they are in real life. While able to strengthen the virtues of fidelity does not condemn infidelity, while praising family ties and values does not shy away from questioning believes.
The photography is superb with the director of photography able to capture the sun, the bight areas and combine them perfectly with shades.
The contrast of the clean spotless dresses in bright colours with the run down walls of a city in the tropics is something one can notice and appreciate.
The collection of small details of the daily life that could have gone unnoticed become through the photography part of the beauty of this film.
The music is acting also as a tool of symbolism and one must pay attention to the beautiful group singing.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
These are the kind of sisterly relationships which we hope to have as women with friends and sisters. Even Lien's languid, half-teasing proposals to her brother could have been sleazy but were not, coming from her yearning to have a child of her own.
A lot of the action -- so to speak -- centres around the kitchen and food. Perhaps it isn't action so much as activity, and the kitchen, as in many homes, is the heart of it. The Vietnam it evokes is clean and innocent somehow -- a relief and perhaps an answer to the other images and thoughts which Vietnam usually inspires. Simple and homely, it shows that people are in some ways the same everywhere.
A lot of the action -- so to speak -- centres around the kitchen and food. Perhaps it isn't action so much as activity, and the kitchen, as in many homes, is the heart of it. The Vietnam it evokes is clean and innocent somehow -- a relief and perhaps an answer to the other images and thoughts which Vietnam usually inspires. Simple and homely, it shows that people are in some ways the same everywhere.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Pleasant but unmemorable
Nicely filmed, in an interesting Vietnamese setting and conveying a good general atmosphere. Three weeks after watching that's about all I can say as it didn't make a big... Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2009 by Top Banana
Exquisite and heart-warming
Like his earlier movie, "The Scent of Green Papaya" (1993), Tran Anh-Hung has here created another masterpiece, a story of three sisters living above their cafe in a street in... Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2009 by Hywel James
lovely
lovely, sensual, nice plot, atmosphere, photographic excellent quality, poetic. Reccommended! Sadly Anh hung tran do not make more movies.
Published on 13 April 2008 by Aleksander Pieri
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