Cu Li Never Cries (Cu Li Không Bao Gio Khóc)

A widow inherits a small, slow loris - a primate species - from her late husband. Meanwhile, a young woman, the widow’s niece, is struggling to keep her daycare center afloat, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Her fiancé, on the other hand, is having second thoughts about their impending marriage. These are the three characters whose lives Vietnamese director Phạm Ngọc Lân delicately portrays in his bittersweet debut feature, Cu Li Never Cries. The film weaves a poignant story of identity and grief, set against the backdrop of Vietnam's turbulent history, whose echoes are still felt in the characters' present lives. Rather than relying heavily on plot, Cu Li Never Cries captivates with its dreamy, atmospheric tone, which is further enhanced by its stunning black-and-white cinematography - a choice born out of necessity due to a limited budget, yet one that adds depth and beauty to the film’s melancholic landscape.