His Excellency Ambassador Đặng Hoàng Giang,
Distinguished Professors, Scholars, Innovators,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honored to join you for this roundtable on Humanity and Compassion in Vietnamese Film and Contributions to the AI World Society. Thank you for your time and participation.
Vietnam is transforming rapidly, including in cinema. In the past five years, our films have gained recognition both locally and internationally, with box office revenues reaching tens of millions of dollars. The revised Cinema Law has also made it easier for foreign film crews to work in Vietnam.
However, our cinema’s success comes from its deep connection to Vietnamese identity. In my book, Modernity and Nationality in Vietnamese Cinema (published in English by NETPAC in 2007), I explored how Vietnamese films reflect patriotism, family values, and compassion—even toward former enemies.
For example, The Wild Field (Cánh đồng hoang) by Nguyễn Hồng Sến tells the story of a guerrilla couple pursued by a helicopter pilot. When the pilot kills the husband, the wife avenges him, but upon seeing a photo of the pilot’s family, she pauses in sorrow—highlighting the deep humanity in our cinema.
Similarly, When the October Comes (Bao giờ cho đến tháng Mười) by Đặng Nhật Minh portrays a woman who hides her husband’s death to protect her father-in-law’s well-being, bearing her grief alone. This sacrifice and compassion define our storytelling.
Vietnamese cinema also embodies the “Mother Principle,” with strong female characters who endure hardships and support their loved ones. This tradition continues in both mainstream and independent films, including recent hits like The House of the Lady (Nhà bà Nữ), Mai, and Face Off 7: One Wish (Lật mặt 7: Một điều ước). Just days ago, we screened Don’t Cry, Butterfly in Washington, D.C., for Vietnam Film Day.
As AI and globalization reshape the world, Vietnamese cinema remains committed to sharing its unique voice—rooted in humanity and compassion—with the AI World Society.
As Founder and Chairwoman of the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), I am proud of our progress from 2019 to 2024, including the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF) and the PAI Film Attraction Index. As we enter our second term in 2025, we aim to strengthen Vietnam’s role as a global filmmaking hub.
We are eager to collaborate with American filmmakers. Our visits to LA, Washington, D.C., New York, and today, Boston, are part of our efforts to build strong partnerships.
I sincerely thank the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, Boston Global Forum, and Harvard University for hosting this event. For VFDA, this is more than a discussion—it’s a celebration of 30 years of Vietnam-U.S. relations.
Thank you.
