It might be some time before the Tran Anh Hung-directed, Mark Lee Ping-bing-lensed adaptation of Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood hits these shores, so for the time being we'll view the first collaboration between the Vietnamese filmmaker and the Taiwanese cinematographer.
The film revolves around the reunion of three sisters as they attend the anniversary of their mother's death. Vertical Ray of the Sun is a visual feast, as Tran and Lee place their three emotionally unstable protagonists in Hanoi, where images of lush greenery sit next to shots defined by bright light and dark shadows. This contrast heightens the viewer's empathy for the siblings' unresolved romances. Ten years on, the film looks as dazzling as ever. Oct 31, 7.40pm, Palace IFC.
