Date: October 11, 2025
Location: Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, Meyer Auditorium
Summary
As part of Vietnam Week 2025, Vietnam Society and the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art presented a special 25th anniversary screening of Vertical Rays of the Sun, the acclaimed film by celebrated director Tran Anh Hung. The afternoon brought together filmmakers, scholars, artists, and community members for a cinematic celebration of one of the most influential works in modern Vietnamese film.
The program began with the exclusive anniversary screening, offering audiences a deep dive into the film’s artistry, emotional depth, and lyrical portrayal of three sisters navigating love, family, and secrecy in present-day Hanoi. The screening was followed by an intimate Director’s Talk featuring Tran Anh Hung in conversation with filmmaker Tony Bui. Their dialogue explored the evolution of Vietnamese cinema, the creative decisions behind each filmmaker’s work, and the broader cultural impact of Vietnamese storytelling on the global stage.
Guests also enjoyed music by DJ Leo Nguyen and community conversations that continued long after the screening. Admission was free with registration, and the event drew film lovers, students, and audiences across the region.
The program honored Tran Anh Hung’s distinguished career, from his early short films to internationally celebrated works including The Scent of Green Papaya, Cyclo, and The Taste of Things, which earned him the Best Director award at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
Tony Bui’s contributions to Vietnamese and Vietnamese American storytelling were also highlighted, including his Sundance award-winning film Three Seasons, his academic work at Columbia University, and his international lecture series Conversations in Storytelling: Regional Voices, Global Impact.
Together, the filmmakers reflected on the enduring resonance of Vietnamese cinema and the responsibility of artists to illuminate truth, memory, and community.
