Vietnam2019105 minVietnamese with English subtitlesCanadian PremiereDrama, Family, LQBTQ+ Filmmakers, Open Captions
Son of a prominent family in Vietnam, Van returns from America for the first time in nine years with his partner, Ian. Coming back to a community with expectations of patriarchy and legacy, Van tries to find the right moment to tell his mother, Mrs. Hanh, about his love for Ian. With the heir unable to bear children, the family fights over their inheritance, surmounting to a violent reveal of truths. Everybody has a secret. An intricately assembled ensemble, Goodbye Mother is a queer story and more.
Director Trinh Dinh Le Minh portrays characters with dignity in this uplifting story, providing positive resolution to otherwise challenging conversations within the Asian family dynamic. Paired with colour palettes that lends itself to the beautiful scenery of Vietnam, the portrayal of queer lovers making plans for the future provides an enriched leading story that normalizes queer Asian narratives in cinema.
– Bertha Lee
Hong Dao
Lanh Thanh
Vo Dien Gia Huy
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
Busan International Film Festival, 2019
Hawai’i International Film Festival, 2019
&PROUD Yangon LGBT Film Festival, 2020
Trinh Dinh Le Minh
Trinh Dinh Le Minh is an emerging director from Vietnam. His narrative short The Scent of Fish Sauce has travelled to film festivals including Palm Springs International Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival and the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. He is also an alumni of Berlinale Talents and Talents Tokyo.
12 Nov, 2020 10:00 am
to 19 Nov, 2020 11:59 pm
14A
CW: Mild violence against queer person, Gay slur
ASL interpretation will be made available thanks to Toronto Sign Language Interpreter Services. Ticket holders can watch on the CineSend Reel Asian portal.
November 15, 2020 at 8PM
This panel considers how digital tools have been mobilized through varying methods to adapt, respond and address changing socio-cultural contexts, and engage with communities. This event is part of the Reel Ideas Symposium.
17 Nov. 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
This fireside chat gathers together filmmaker mentors from Reel Asian’s 2020 Unsung Voices incubator to discuss what the building blocks of a good narrative are. This event is part of the Reel Ideas Symposium.
14 Nov. 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Abundant with hope, desire, and resiliency, all six of these films make a statement to queer histories, presents, and futures—in front of and behind the screen. Includes National Film Board of Canada Best Canadian Short Film Award, Reel Asian 2020 winner SAFE AMONG STARS and winner of Change Connect Award, Reel Asian 2020 GOD'S DAUGHTER DANCES.
12 Nov. 10:00 am - 19 Nov. 11:59 pm
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is a unique showcase of contemporary Asian cinema and work from the Asian diaspora. Works include films and videos by East, South and Southeast Asian artists in Canada, the U.S., Asia and all over the world. As Canada’s largest Asian film festival, Reel Asian provides a public forum for Asian media artists and their work, and fuels the growing appreciation for Asian cinema in Canada.
401 Richmond Street West, The Commons (Suite 448)
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3A8 Canada
(416) 703 – 9333
info@reelasian.com
Charitable number: 870021383RR0001
