Deborah Chan
Do Thi Hai Yen is a Vietnamese actress who stars in the film 'Adrift' (Choi Voi) as Duyen, a young bride whose marriage to her husband, Hai, remains unconsummated. In the film, Duyen's wedding excitement fades as she realises her husband is sexually naive and overly occupied by his job and mother. The film explores themes of adultery and sexual awakening in contemporary Hanoi and won the Fipresci Prize at the Venice International Film Festival.
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What You'll Learn
Do Thi Hai Yen's character Duyen is a newlywed in the film Adrift
Do Thi Hai Yen portrays Duyen, a newlywed in the film Adrift, directed by Bui Thac Chuyen. The film explores female sexuality and desire in contemporary Hanoi, Vietnam, amidst the backdrop of a monsoon.
Duyen is a radiant young Vietnamese bride who, in the opening scene of the film, is seen in her wedding gown, patiently waiting by the nuptial bed for her new husband, Hai, played by Duy Khoa Nguyen. However, Hai drinks himself into a stupor at the wedding celebration, leaving Duyen disappointed and sexually frustrated. As the days pass, Hai shows no interest in consummating their marriage, and Duyen seeks advice from her friend Cam, played by Linh Dan Pham, who secretly desires her.
Cam diabolically encourages Duyen to take a job as a translator on a tour led by the seductive lothario Tho, played by Johnny Tri Nguyen, knowing that he will make advances on her. Duyen's encounter with Tho leads to a sexual awakening, which thrusts her into a precarious love triangle. The film subtly captures the confusion and psychological mystery surrounding Duyen's exploration of her sexuality while navigating the complexities of her unfulfilling marriage.
Adrift premiered in 2009 and received critical acclaim, winning the Fipresci Prize at the Venice International Film Festival. It was also showcased at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in Manhattan as part of its Global Lens 2010 exhibition. The film's aesthetic, characterized by muted colours, shadowy interiors, and rain-soaked streets, effectively conveys the mood and themes of yearning, unconsummated love, and the exploration of desire in a changing cultural landscape.
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Duyen's husband Hai is controlled by his mother
Duyen's husband, Hai, is controlled by his mother. On the day of their wedding, Hai's mother instructs Duyen to pamper her son and not to "work him too hard". As a result, Duyen's marriage remains unconsummated, and she feels emotionally isolated.
Hai is a mama's boy, and his mother's influence is evident in his behaviour towards his new wife. He prioritises his job and his mother over his wife, and when Duyen tries to initiate intimacy, he brushes her off, claiming to have an appointment.
Duyen's obedience to her mother-in-law comes at a cost, as her marriage remains unfulfilled and she feels increasingly alone. Meanwhile, Hai's mother continues to meddle, even after the wedding. Her instructions to Duyen indicate a level of control over her son, as she believes he needs to be protected and sheltered, even from the demands of married life.
The dynamic between Hai and his mother is a significant factor in the challenges Duyen faces as a new bride. Her attempts to navigate her role as a wife are complicated by her husband's closeness to his mother and his apparent inability to make decisions independently.
As the weeks pass, Duyen's frustration likely grows, and she may feel trapped in a marriage that is not meeting her expectations. The control exerted by Hai's mother contributes to the tension and unhappiness within the relationship, highlighting the power dynamics and family expectations at play in this traditional Vietnamese family.
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Duyen and Hai's marriage remains unconsummated
In the film Adrift (Choi Voi), directed by Bui Thac Chuyen, Duyen (played by Do Thi Hai Yen) and Hai (played by Duy Khoa Nguyen) are newlyweds. However, their marriage remains unconsummated. On their wedding day, Hai's mother instructs Duyen to pamper her son and not to "work him too hard", allowing him to sleep. When Duyen makes advances towards her new husband, he brushes her off, claiming to have an appointment.
Duyen confides in her best friend, Cam (Linh-Dan Pham), who is secretly in love with her. Cam persuades Duyen to take a job as a translator on a tour with Tho (Johnny Tri Nguyen), a handsome and seductive lothario. Tho takes advantage of Duyen, and her desperate 3 a.m. call to Cam indicates that she was traumatized by the intensity of her sexual awakening.
Meanwhile, Hai is befriended by a young woman who jumps into his cab while fleeing her abusive, alcoholic father. As Duyen's marriage remains unconsummated, she finds herself in a state of emotional isolation, further exacerbated by her husband's closeness with the young woman.
The film explores the themes of erotic angst and uncomfortable awakening, as Duyen navigates her unconsummated marriage and her husband's lack of interest in her. Adrift depicts the transformation of a woman from innocent to awakened in modern Hanoi, with Duyen and Hai's relationship serving as a central element of the story.
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Duyen's friend Cam is secretly in love with her
In the film "Adrift" ("Choi Voi"), Duyen, played by Do Thi Hai Yen, is a young Vietnamese bride. Her best friend, Cam, is secretly in love with her. Cam is a despairing, neurasthenic writer who is so cynical about the chances of any marriage lasting that she doesn't attend Duyen's wedding.
As Duyen's marriage remains unconsummated and her emotional isolation grows, she reaches out to Cam, who secretly desires her. Cam, however, betrays her friend by pushing her towards a dangerous and provocative suitor, Tho, a handsome and seductive lothario and tourist guide. Cam asks Duyen to deliver a letter to Tho, knowing that he will physically throw himself at her.
Tho reports back to Cam that Duyen is sexually inexperienced, and Cam diabolically persuades Duyen to take a temporary job as a translator on one of Tho's tours, fully aware of what will happen. Duyen is traumatized by the intensity of her sexual awakening at Tho's hands, as evidenced by her desperate 3 a.m. call to Cam.
While Duyen is away, Cam's true feelings for her are not explicitly addressed in the film. However, it is clear that Cam's actions are driven by her secret love for Duyen, as she knowingly puts her in a situation that will lead to infidelity and a dangerous love triangle.
The film explores the complex dynamics of desire, friendship, and betrayal between the two women, with Cam's hidden love for Duyen driving the narrative in unexpected and melancholy directions.
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Duyen has a sexual awakening with Cam's suitor Tho
In the film Adrift, Duyen (played by Do Thi Hai Yen) experiences a sexual awakening with Cam's suitor, Tho (Johnny Tri Nguyen). Duyen, a young Vietnamese bride, finds her excitement about her new husband, Hai, fading as she realises he is sexually naïve and overly occupied by his job and mother. Her marriage remains unconsummated, and she feels emotionally isolated.
Duyen confides in her best friend, Cam (Linh-Dan Pham), who is secretly in love with her. Cam diabolically persuades Duyen to take a job as a translator on one of her suitor Tho's tours, knowing what will happen. Tho is described as a "handsome, seductive lothario and tourist guide" who physically hurls himself on Duyen when she first meets him.
Whatever transpires between Tho and Duyen is not shown, but her desperate 3 a.m. call to Cam while on the road indicates that she was traumatized by the intensity of her sexual awakening. The resulting sexual awakening and infidelity thrust Duyen into a precarious and dangerous love triangle.
The film, directed by Bui Thac Chuyen, is a subtle, melancholy exploration of erotic angst and uncomfortable awakening in contemporary Hanoi. It captures the transformation of a woman from an artless innocent to an awakened woman in modern times.
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Frequently asked questions
A: Duyen.
A: Hai, a baby-faced Hanoi taxi driver and mama's boy.
A: Cam.
A: On Duyen's wedding day, Hai's mother instructs Duyen to pamper her son and not to work him too hard.
A: Duyen's excitement begins to fade as she realizes her young husband is sexually naive and overly occupied by his job and mother.
