The Last Wife

As a Viet live abroad, I was so excited to see a Vietnamese movies on Netflix. I could not pass 15 minutes because of minor thing that are over looked. To make a quality movies, you have to get every little details correct, and accurate. The main actress while doing a terrific job, but has southern accent. Mean while every one else in the movies setting was speaking in Northern accent. Major misinform facts. This is the director mistake. He could demand the main actress speak in Northern accent and it would be bearable to watch. And the Executive producer? Who are they? And let this slide? Probably not a Viet live abroad person to go along with this madness. I'm sorry, but I give it a 4 stars at best.

I started following Victor Vu's films since "Passport to love" (2009), and I'm quite happy that I was able to take in this latest offering of his. The cinematography is top notch - right from the start, you're pulled into the story by the gorgeous sceneries, the lush vegetation, the breathtaking waterfalls and rural vistas. This is also a period drama, in which the costumes are sumptuous, the peasant dresses authentic looking, and you experience full immersion in 19th century Vietnam, during the Nguyen dynasty. The story is fairly straightforward and its development and denouement somewhat predictable. In scope and breadth, it reminded me of "Raise the red lantern" the Chinese-language 1991 Zhang Yimou romantic comedy starring Gong Li. Here too we witness the bleak fate that befalls young, pretty women when confronted with family poverty and ruthless, cruel landowners or government officials. The acting is very good. Kaity Nguyen, Thuan Nguyen, and all the supporting cast put in solid, very believable performances. It was a good 2+ hours in an pleasant, delightful, at times tear-jerking movie. I hope that Victor Vu will continue to give these little gems, which, IMO, are much better fare than the blockbusters and superhero rehashes we seem to keep getting from the big studios. I fully recommend "The last wife" and give it a solid 8 stars.

I read reviews after watching. First I will say that I will refrain from bashing another countries dramas and or acting style to get my point across. It had potential but it missed the mark in my opinion. With that being said I have only watched K&C dramas so this was a new direction. I was not pleased but I wasn't disappointed but that's probably because I didn't have any expectations when I chose it. It's more of a mixture of a bunch of ideas that had absolutely nothing to make them have a common ground.

Poverty meets wealth. Wealth abuses power. Then, poverty after losing all hope, eventually finds peace.

Too long, too cheesy, same old style from director Victor Vu. Somehow all the wives have different Vietnamese accents even though they're from the same town. None of the characters are likeable, I can't even sympathize with the 3rd wife and her old lover. Somehow being poor justifies your actions in life?!?! I can't even be sad for what happen to their lives. Overdramatized and overplayed cliche story, like watching a Korean drama with bad acting. I'm Vietnamese but I don't think I'll watch another Victor Vu movie, after this and Mat Biet. This is my first one star review on IMDb. I'm glad it's free on Netflix otherwise...

I really enjoyed the cinematography in this film. The scenery is stunning and it was wonderfully photographed and very pleasing to look at. So much so that I hope to go to visit the area where it was filmed to see the scenery for myself.

I think that the main actors portrayed their characters very well. I found it a very moving story because I felt invested in the characters and lost in their tale. This is quite a long film but it did not feel long because I was very engaged throughout. There are moments of high tension which keep you on the edge of your seat.

I have been told that the actor who played the governor is better known as a theatrical comedian rather than as an actor.