Tôi thay hoa vàng trên co xanh

A movie that asks you to be both patient and naïve (in a childish manner, so to speak).

Failing upon those, it might come as tedious and cheesy.

If both are embraced, it all feels like a beautiful poem on love and all other encompassing emotions.

Victor Vu is one of the best directors in Viet Nam, and he gave us an awesome film which based on Nguyen Nhat Anh's "I see yellow flowers on the green grass" Entire of the film is a story about Thieu and his little brother - Tuong. Everything run slowly, smoothly with many beautiful pictures in Phu Yen province's countryside. The background of the film is in 1989, viewers can have a overview about Viet Nam at that time: poor, destitute but truly full of love. Following 2 little boys's story, viewers will seem to be come back to their childhood with traditional games, works and even the change in thought of Thieu - teenage boy. It is very pure, sincere but selfish. I bet that all people always want to keep in mind all of their memories about that. From my point of view, the bigger drama, the more completion. Let's enjoy the movie and recall your childhood!

It is not for people, who love action movie. The movie is really slow and try to express the change in teenager's emotion for their first love. In addition, the movie express the strong bond between brothers in family.

Most significant cinematography masterpiece from Victor Vu yet.

The movie is set in 1980's rural area of Vietnam and the story follows 12-year old Thieu, his 7-year old brother Tuong and Thieu's childhood crush Moon. The brothers do everything together, play in rice paddies, running errands, sleep on same bed...their days are filled with curious adventures. Then one day Moon comes into the picture and incites Thieu's insecurities and jealousy towards his brother Tuong who, by hid nature, is trusting and full of innocence. Even when Thieu inflicts physical harm to Tuong, the younger brother continues to idolize Thieu and constantly seeks his approval.

One could easily pick up that the movie is a string of small episodes involving the lives of these three characters in rural area where resources are scarce and that the welfare sometimes depends on the sacrifices made.

Such a beautiful movie, both aesthetically and content-wise. Movies featuring children as leads are usually enjoyable when the story looks and feels genuine and heartfelt, and this one ticks all the boxes. The relationship between the brothers, with all the conflicting feelings, the anguish of first love with the hesitations, misunderstandings and awkwardness. Moon is not the brightest, and she looked younger than Thieu, but I cannot tell with Asian children. She seemed much more comfortable with the younger brother. And although this is clearly Thieu's story, Tuong is the sweetest brother and friend you could ever hope to have.

I get the feeling that this is somewhat idealized, but it is 1989 in a rural part of Vietnam, and there are plenty of hardships that the families have to deal with. We see them through Thieu's eyes, but he is on the brink of maturity and he has left the magic world of fairy tales, which Tuong still believes in. There's folklore, magic and superstitions, making childhood an enchanted time. However, parents are quick to anger and corporal punishment. The movie blends it all together and despite some dragginess here and there it ties all loose threads at the end.