Arriving in Ho Chi Minh, the sweltering southern heat was a stark contrast to the mild “winter” in Hanoi, where the weather was like a good British Spring. Despite the heat, I managed to arrange a lunch with Linh-Dan, where we caught up on art, the Summer Rolls production, and reminisced about the quirky experiences we had with people in the creative industry. We also discussed my purpose in Vietnam and, through our conversation, she gave me recommendations and spoke fondly of director Bui Thac Chuyen.

I must admit, I was ashamed to tell her that I hadn’t yet seen Adrift, but I promised to watch it as soon as I returned to my room. So, after settling into the heat of Ho Chi Minh, I plugged my laptop in and pressed play on the film.

Thank God for air conditioning, because Adrift was intense. Watching this film felt like experiencing the oppressive heat of Vietnam itself, slow, simmering, and filled with tension. There’s a lot to say about this film, but the most striking thing for me was how proud I was of Linh-Dan’s performance. She truly embodies the character of Duyen, navigating through emotional and sexual turmoil with such depth and subtlety.

The film is a restrained melodrama, discreetly lyrical and mildly erotic, and I was captivated by how the director chose to explore Duyen’s emotional-sexual conundrum in such an understated way. The story takes us through Duyen’s unconsummated marriage and the complex relationships around her, where manipulation and love intertwine. The beautiful social observations woven throughout Adrift left me thinking about the conflict between individual desires and the weight of societal expectations.

The soundtrack, too, completely swept me away. The music added a whole new layer to the film, amplifying the emotions and the intimacy of the characters’ journeys. It complemented the mood of the film perfectly, somber and reflective, yet beautiful in its simplicity. I found myself lost in the haunting melodies, which deepened my connection to the film’s atmosphere and made it even more memorable.

The performances of the two leading actresses, Linh Dan Pham and Đỗ Thị Hải Yến (whom I recognised in Chuyện của Pao (The Story Of Pao 2006), were phenomenal. Their portrayal of complex emotions and relationships was gripping, and their chemistry was electric. In Adrift, Bui Thac Chuyen crafts a story that explores themes of longing, frustration, and sexual awakening in a way that feels both authentic and emotionally raw.

Though Adrift is a film about a woman’s journey of self-discovery, it also speaks to larger themes about the societal pressures that shape our identities and our relationships. It reminded me that we are all, in some way, adrift, caught between who we are and who society expects us to be.

I can’t say I loved the film in the conventional sense, but I deeply appreciated how it made me reflect on intimacy, personal growth, and the complexities of relationships. And that soundtrack,  I’ll be thinking about that for a long time.