2013 Sunset Cinema Series – The Vertical Ray of the Sun (Vietnam)

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The Vertical Ray of the Sun (Vietnam, 2001)
Running Time: 112 Minutes
In this critically acclaimed Vietnamese drama, three sisters living in modern-day Hanoi – Lien (trān nū yēn khē, Cyclo), Suong (nguyēn nhū quȳnh, The Chinese Botanist’s Daughters) and Khanh (lēkhanh) – prepare a banquet for the anniversary of their mother’s death. Upon the ending of the banquet, the three sisters’ personal lives go through different stages of distress, dealing with strife in their personal relationships and the revelation of a mysterious man who lingered throughout their mother’s life. Directed by trān anh hūng (The Scent of Green Papaya), THE VERTICAL RAY OF THE SUN is a beautifully shot film that transports you into another world.

Workshop Instructor: Vinit Parmar
Workshop Coordinator: Antony Wong
Technical Assistance: Zhui-Hui Wu

Author Bio

Vinit Parmar is a documentary filmmaker who has fought for the underdog to tell stories all over the world, such as impoverished Indian villagers finding renewable solutions to save their island Quest for Energy (2012), or children of war seeking refuge in Berlin (We Stay Here, 2021), investigating why the holiest river in India is the most polluted, and (Mosaik, 2026) finding home with a pseudo-mother at their German shelter. He left a career as a lawyer in New York State to teach filmmaking, and currently an Associate Professor at Brooklyn College/CUNY. He recently finished his first film Down The Line (2024) made in America with Steve Kim, his best friend in high school.