Dr. Đào Lê Na is a leading scholar of Vietnamese film and literature and Head of the Department of Screenwriting and Film Arts at VNU-HCMC. I met her at a peaceful café in Saigon, where her quiet wisdom and generosity shone through during our interview. She reflected on the evolution of Vietnamese cinema, from the formulaic “Instant Noodle” era to the rise of independent films exploring authentic characters, social issues, and diverse storytelling. She highlights the importance of culture, history, family, and landscape in shaping Vietnamese narratives, and the distinctive ways filmmakers convey meaning through imagery, tradition, and human connections. She also discussed the challenges screenwriters face, from limited funding to censorship, and shared her optimism about a new generation of independent filmmakers and women directors redefining Vietnamese cinema.

[Read the full interview here]