Ròm

Very good film in which the characters are struggling to survive in a bleak, poverty-stricken part of Ho Chi Minh City that is controlled by a ruthless gangster. The main character, Nòm, is an orphan with dreams of reuniting with the parents who abandoned him after they were evicted from their home.

He earns money by running daily lottery bets to and from bookies and persists despite endemic violence, treachery, and literal hunger. He is wiley and relatively street savvy, having had to fend for himself for the last 6 years.

The movie itself seems to expose the seamy side of a capitalist society that provides little or no support to its poorest members, especially in a country founded on Communist principles.

The film really took me on and off for a ride of emotions, especially for someone who had a time living with people who strived their way out of situations as bad as the characters in the movie was. I found the movie to be incredibly realist, and that angle was delivered by totally beautiful scenes. It is true that there are plots where the films get a bit confusing, which was explained to be due to necessary cuts in order to be approved by the government, which also was the reason that leads to the poor characteristic development in the characters. But in general, how the film is delivered really got me and it definitely deserves all it receives by now!

This was way too long, even at the mere 79 min runtime. It was just the same thing over and over again, and it got boring and depressing. It didn't even make much sense how any of these numbers written on a piece of paper go towards betting. You will struggle finishing this one. This would've been better as a documentary. I will say though that it was well shot and certainly shows the slums of Vietnam. The amateur kid actors performed well. Nvm all the bogus high reviews, it's a generous 5/10 from me.

You should go to theaters and watch this movie right away!

You should watch Rom similar movies. Examples: Hereditary, Burning, Midsommar, American Psycho. No opening nor ending, confusing content, ... The movie isn't bad, you just don't have enough knowledge to understand it.