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Poster for The Vertical Ray of the Sun

The Vertical Ray of the Sun

2000 · 1h 52m · PG-13 Drama, Romance
Directed by Trần Anh Hùng

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Overview

Hanoi comes across almost picture-perfect in director Tran Anh Hung's beautiful, elegiac tale about the lives and loves of three Vietnamese sisters. A mood characteristic of Hung's films is set early on with the vivid sounds of birds, insects and water and the way the lighting enhances the subtle use of color. They all combine to gem-like effect here.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
82%
Tomatometer
Fresh

This might just be the perfect time to soak up some of its calm and natural beauty.

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News
Fresh

Tran Anh Hung, who earned an Oscar nomination for his first movie, The Scent of Green Papaya (1993), has created another exquisite portrait of Vietnamese family life.

John Hartl, Seattle Times
Rotten

The film's minimalism works against it.

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
Fresh

A film shaped ... around the mundane, endlessly fascinating and humanizing details of who we are right here and now.

Susan Stark, Detroit News
Fresh

The Vertical Ray of Sun is beautiful, languorous, passive -- it plays like background music for itself.

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

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