Film Review: 'Troi Sang Roi, Ta Ngu Di Thoi (The Sun Is Up, Let's Go To Sleep)'

What is it about?

Ha Quoc Hoang and Tran Le Thuy Vy as Tam and Th.anh

"Trời Sáng Rồi, Ta Ngủ Đi Thôi (The Sun Is Up, Let's Go To Sleep)" is the directorial debut from director Chung Chi Cong, starring newcomers Ha Quoc Hoang and Tran Le Thuy Vy.

The film is a throwback, nostalgic ode to everything-Saigon and the ever-growing indie-pop culture of Generation Z, following an aspiring musician and his companion, the perfect manic pixie dream girl who also happens to be a talented lyricist, as they traverse through the beauties of Saigon over one day, before her departure and his ongoing struggles interrupt their dream-like day together.

How was the film?

From the get-go, audience know it's a very low-budget film, made in the same vein as 'Before Sunrise' and 'Once'. Improv was certainly encouraged, scenes were carefully staged to avoid crowds, and the utilization of long, unbroken takes gave the film a very chilled-out, relatable vibe.

But rather than being a pale knock-off of other low-budget romance dramas, "Trời Sáng Rồi" succeeds in standing on its own: a film oozing with style and heart, it takes pages from the aforementioned films' playbook, but never once does it steep to being a cheap cash-grab, barreling on recognizable indie-pop tunes and cliched storylines.

Ha Quoc Hoang's Tam is our protagonist

Instead, the film focuses on themes of identity crisis, artistic integrity and the crushing reality of adulthood, transposed marvelously through Ha Quoc Hoang's tormented songwriter Tam, who, after leaving college to pursue a career in music, is facing the harsh dilemmas of rising indie artists: living without a dependable income, longing for his creative voice to be heard while suffering severe existential problems, and battling with the ever-lasting question of "Should I turn back or should I keep moving forward?" that every adult will inevitably face in their lives. But through Hoang, we observe the optimism of a challenged dreamer, one willing to meet his problems with a head full of steam, regardless of its outcome.

Tran Le Thuy Vy's Th.anh is Tam's musical match

Through Thuy Vy's Th.anh (that is not a typo), we see the gradual acceptance of adult life while longing for a bygone era. Her daily job is as a ride-hailing driver, a typical career path for all Vietnamese grad students before they can secure a dependable source of income. But rather than filtering adulthood through the lens of cynicism and deteriorating mental stability, as with Tam, Th.anh has lived the life of a broken individual, letting her spoils be the light of her path, and in turn, is relentless in her positivity and hopefulness for the unforeseeable future, seeing life with a dash of yellow to go with her condensed milk coffee.

In its contrasting, yet similarly lovable, protagonists, "Trời Sáng Rồi..." delivers its core message without being preachy, whilst boasting enviable visuals and photographic shot selections that could rival any big-budget productions. There isn't a moment when you don't see the love and passion poured onto the screen: it is a product that everyone involved clearly enjoyed being a part of.

Best part of the film?

Easily the star of the show was the film's soundtrack.

DSK, Đen Vâu, Diệp Hoàng Anh,...are all given their dues here

A clear enthusiast for indie-pop, Chung Chi Cong's soundtrack selection is impeccably Viet pop-drenched and honest to a fault. Fans of Đen Vâu, DSK, Diệp Hoàng Anh,...will certainly get their pocket's worth with earnest, slightly unedited, renditions of their hits.

But it is in the original songs, do we see the heart of the film.

They are cliched love pops that may or may not have slipped your mind by the time the lights are on, yes, but it's a representation of the characters' paths: they sing their hearts out for what they love, what they want to be loved for, and even if it doesn't end with that 'happily forever after' mantra of past romance dramas, it's the part of their youths that Tam and Th.anh will always remember.

Worst part of the film?

There isn't a lot to pick faults with here, but the sound editing and cinematography are stretched to their limits many times during the film. Characters' dialogues are heavily ADR'd, Tam and Th.anh's singing voices are fiendishly autotuned at points, dramatically shifting the emotional weight of the songs, and the long 'oners' are, sometimes, to mask the film's limited budget rather than be an artistically-driven choice.

The film's budget is stretched to its breaking point

While both Ha Quoc Hoang and Tran Le Thuy Vy are rightfully applauded for their earnest performances, both could have benefitted from second takes, as their stilted deliveries of some of the more questionable lines in the film are only overcome by their back-and-forth chemistry, as well the film's many stylish editing tricks.

Is It Any Good?

"Yes". The short and simple answer.

Scripting and budgetary limitations may prevent it from being truly memorable, but the film's pure heart and magnetic visual style is certainly worth the matinee ticket. If not then the meticulously selected and lovingly performed soundtrack should definitely pull audiences in for this 95-minute adventure.

Definitely visit the film at a theater near you.