Vietnamese Film “Cu Li Never Cries” Wins GWFF Best First Feature At Berlinale
Born and raised in Hanoi, after studying urban planning at Hanoi Architectural University, Lan taught himself filmmaking. His short films have already been presented twice at the Berlinale, Another City in 2016, and Blessed Land in 2019. Cu Li Never Cries is his debut feature film.
![]() |
People's Artist Minh Chau (left) and actor Hoang Ha in a scene from the movie Culi Never Cries - Photo: An Nam Productions/Cadence Studio |
According to VOV, this is Pham Ngoc Lan's biggest film project since 2017, and the production units are An Nam Productions (HCMC) and Cadence Studio (Hanoi).
In the film, Lady M., a blue-collar retiree in Vietnam, returns to Berlin when she learns that her estranged German husband has died. The legacy her husband has left her is an urn with his ashes and Cu Li, a primate found primarily in Southeast Asia. Upon returning to Vietnam, Lady M. finds that her pregnant niece Van is rushing into marriage, and fears that she will make the same life mistakes as she did. Lady M. proceeds to embark upon a journey retracing her memories, evoking Vietnam’s storied past.
The story is the contrast between the pilgrimage in thoughts of the past of a woman who has lived most of her life and her niece who is planning to get married with worries about the uncertain future. The film depicts the present, the future, and the complex echoes of Vietnamese history thoughtfully and poetically.
![]() |
(From left to right) Director Pham Ngoc Lan with People's Artist Minh Chau, Hoang Ha and Le Thi Ha Phuong on the red carpet of Berlin Film Festival 2024. Photo: Berlin Film Festival |
Since 2006, when it introduced the GWFF Best First Feature Award, the Berlinale has been even more committed to supporting the next generation of filmmakers.
The award is endowed with EUR 50,000 (about US $54,000), donated by the GWFF (Gesellschaft zur Wahrnehmung von Film- und Fernsehrechten), a society dedicated to safeguarding film and television rights.
In 2024, 16 directorial feature films debuts from the sections Competition, Encounters, Panorama, Forum, and Generation, were nominated.
The 74th Berlin Film Festival takes place from February 15 to 25 in Berlin, Germany. The movie Culi Never Cries was released in Germany from February 20 to February 25 in theaters within the Berlin Film Festival.
![]() | Vietnam, RoK Celebrate Productive Friendship in Webtoon Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), a country with popular webtoons adapted into TV series on Netflix, expressed interest in accessing the intellectual property as well ... |
![]() | Two Vietnamese Films Compete in First ASEAN Film Festival “I See Yellow Flowers on Green Grass” and “Yen’s Life” of Vietnam are competing in the first ASEAN Film Festival (AFF) in Hong Kong (China). |
![]() | Vietnamese Film “Tro Tan Ruc Ro” to Compete at 2024 Oscars "Tro tan ruc ro" (Glorious Ashes) has become Vietnam’s representative in the preliminary round of the international feature film category at the 2024 Oscars. |
Recommended
![Endless Streams Of People Mourn General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/072024/26/13/croped/endless-streams-of-people-mourn-general-secretary-nguyen-phu-trong.jpg)
Endless Streams Of People Mourn General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong
![Vietnam’s Weather Forecast (July 27): Intense Heat In The North And Heavy Rain In The South](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/072024/26/03/vietnams-weather-forecast-july-27-intense-heat-in-the-north-and-heavy-rain-in-the-south.jpg?rt=20240726035654)
Vietnam’s Weather Forecast (July 27): Intense Heat In The North And Heavy Rain In The South
![Vietnam Ranks 88th in World's Powerful Passport Index](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/072024/25/13/vietnam-ranks-88th-in-worlds-powerful-passport-index.jpg?rt=20240725130043)
Vietnam Ranks 88th in World's Powerful Passport Index
![Memorial Service for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong Held in Japan](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/072024/25/13/japan-burns-incense-and-write-condolence-books-for-general-secretary-nguyen-phu-trongs-visitation-ceremony.jpg?rt=20240725130256)
Memorial Service for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong Held in Japan
Popular article
![Chip ID Cards Required for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's Memorial Service](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/072024/25/12/2d08849298ef2c0c03fe4b6bfa62f4a6.jpg?rt=20240725120546)
Chip ID Cards Required for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's Memorial Service
![Vietnam’s Weather Forecast (July 26): Intermitten Sun In Hanoi And Heavy Rain In Ho Chi Minh City](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/072024/25/03/vietnams-weather-forecast-july-26-intermitten-sun-in-hanoi-and-heavy-rain-in-ho-chi-minh-city.jpg?rt=20240725034847)
Vietnam’s Weather Forecast (July 26): Intermitten Sun In Hanoi And Heavy Rain In Ho Chi Minh City
![1954 Geneva Agreement - A Glorious Milestone in Vietnamese History](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/072024/22/21/010675919ee9e279033b91c31f3b5fcb.jpg?rt=20240722210344)
1954 Geneva Agreement - A Glorious Milestone in Vietnamese History
![Bilingual Media Product Design Competition about Dong Nai Launched](https://vietnamtimes.org.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/072024/21/12/bilingual-media-product-design-competition-about-dong-nai-province-launched.jpg?rt=20240721122443)