HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese movie Cha Cõng Con (Father and Son) has been selected as the official entry for the Best Foreign-Language Film for the 90th Academy Awards.

The paternal-themed movie Father and Son, directed by Lương Đình Dũng, received the highest score from the voting council of the Department of Cinema, surpassing its two competitors, Đảo Của Dân Ngụ Cư (The Way Station) by actress-director Hồng Ánh and Sút (Shoot) by director Việt Max.  

“I am very happy and hope that Father and Son will bring an award for Việt Nam,” said director Lương Đình Dũng.

"Many have expressed an interest in watching Father and Son. In the coming period, we will hold film screenings in schools as well as in some cinemas. I know some people travelled very far just to watch the movie. It is a source of great happiness for us and the film crew to hear this,” said Dũng.

Dũng’s first feature film won several Vietnamese and international awards, including Best Cinematography award at the 17th Milano International Film Festival (MIFF), Best Foreign Feature and Special Jury Award for Outstanding Cinematography at the 26th Arizona International Film Festival and Indie Spirit Best Storyline award at the 15th Boston International Film Festival.

The main character in the movie is a little boy named Cá. He lives with his blind father, who has spent his entire life by the river. Cá’s world revolves around the river and everything associated with it, including the animals, flowers and the wooden fish his father carved for him.

Cá dreams of touching the clouds and of visiting the fancy fairytale lands described by his father. However, Cá suffers from an incurable disease and cannot wait for the day his father has enough money to take him to the doctor.

Việt Nam’s Father and Son will compete with the likes of South Korean movie A Taxi Driver and Finnish movie Tom of Finland, as well as Thailand’s By the Time It Gets Dark.

The 2018 Oscar winners will be announced on March 4, 2018. — VNS