In Tran Ahn Hung's (The Scent of Green Papaya) film The Vertical Ray Of The Sun (2000), the overall impression is one of a lush, sensuous summer day in the tropics. The film is big on atmosphere that is created by sublime cinematographer Ping Bin Lee (who has worked on films for Wong Kar-Wai and Hsiao-Hsien Hou) rather than plot. The story mostly takes place in Hanoi and Halong Bay among beautiful locations of sunlight apartments and among the picturesque islands that dot Halong Bay (this is where one husband has his second family and often goes for his work). The story concerns three sisters and their love lives: the youngest (the director's ravishing wife Tran Nu Yen-Khe- see above) seems to be love with her brother, one sister's husband has another family, and the third is pregnant and suspects her husband has cheated on her. The film captures everyday moments like waking in the morning to the strains of The Velvet Underground, preparing meals, and having coffee in the coffee shop. It was an enjoyable experience to be in that atmosphere, but it doesn't have the same overall poignance of the other master directors that Ping has worked with (Wong and Hou).
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