I stumbled across this film while diving deep into Vietnamese cinema research, and wow, it’s a beautifully shot short that stays with you. It’s one of those films where on the surface, maybe not much happens, but somehow everything is happening. You can literally feel the heat of Saigon burning through the screen. This film feels like an essential piece of work, observational, layered, full of life. The vibrant colors, the sounds, the characters, all so real and raw. No wonder it became so well-known after its release.

I’m genuinely excited to see what kind of filmmaking is coming out of Vietnam now, and can’t wait to catch the director’s next project. I’ve watched Stay Awake Be Ready hundreds of times because every single viewing reveals something new, and that’s the real magic of this film. It’s alive, and it keeps growing with you.