In recent years, Asian-led films have focused on a central theme of cultural conflict. Whether it is the friction between mothers and daughters or the stigma of being different, they open up a discussion as to how identity is treated among a growing Asian diaspora. The debut directorial film by Stéphane Ly-Cuong, a French-Vietnamese filmmaker and actor, adds a new dimension to the conversation, with the magic of musical theatre.
In the Nguyen Kitchen (OV: Dans le Cuisine de Nguyen) stars Clotilde Chevalier as Yvonne Nguyen, the sole daughter of an immigrant Vietnamese family who dreams of being on stage. After suffering multiple rejections, she strives to land a coveted role while facing judgment from her mother (Anh Tran-Nghia).
The heart of Ly-Cuong’s film is the dynamic between Yvonne and her widowed mother (Ma), who runs a restaurant. A heft of culture clashes shape their relationship – Yvonne identifies herself as French, barely speaks Vietnamese and is unfamiliar with how to cook the dishes her mother makes every day. In turn, her mother speaks broken French, yearns for her daughter to pursue a more stable career and openly voices her criticism for Yvonne ‘chasing her dreams’. Their differences are well noted in several Asian-led narratives. Still, Ly-Cuong’s insight into the life of Vietnamese immigrants in France brings another level to the genre, referring to the refugees who fled Vietnam by boat or ship after the Vietnam War. Although it is only briefly mentioned, it evokes the emotional pressure from Ma for Yvonne to live “a better life” – in other words, a more stable life, even if it means forsaking her dreams.
The film’s musical aspect brings something new as it integrates another cultural element that extends the narrative past the kitchen and onto the stage. Yvonne is happiest when she is performing, and karaoke is a crowd-pleaser at the restaurant. Even Ma loses herself during an intimate concert featuring Vietnamese singer Truc Dao (Linh-Dan Pham), with a flashback to her youth. But amid Thuy-Nhân Dao and Clovis Schneider’s original upbeat songs, there is a serious edge that sees Yvonne passed over for auditions due to her Asian heritage. But when she lands an audition for an Asian female role in a touring production – a geisha groansomely referred to as Lotus Flower – she internalises her culture to succeed. Even when the theatre director Philippe Vernon (Thomas Jolly) tries to embrace her creativity through her culture, Yvonne’s internal conflict highlights her discomfort with being openly Vietnamese – a relatable struggle among similar Asian characters who choose to acclimatise rather than celebrate their uniqueness.
Having worked on Ly-Cuong’s stage show Cabaret Jaune Citron, Chevalier naturally embodies Yvonne. She exudes a radiance when she is on stage while she effectively conveys a hesitation with her mother (wonderfully played by Anh Tran-Nghia), highlighting the fraught relationship between them. Supporting cast members such as Christophe Tek as childhood friend Georges, Gaël Kamilindi as Yvonne’s friend Koko, and Leanna Chea as her frenemy Fu Fen, bring additional layers to the contemplative story, bringing a reflective poignancy to the proceedings.
In his debut feature as director, Ly-Cuong takes care to balance the fantastical of the musical numbers with the harsh reality of being different. Despite some cringy comedy relief in the shape of Camille Japy’s egotistical dance teacher Angela, the screenplay offers profound dialogue that shapes Yvonne’s confusion about her identity, causing her to consistently question herself and her self-confidence amid her auditions. This provides a consistent tone in the narrative, and along with some carefully staged sequences, it allows Yvonne to be the star in her own story – and more importantly, on her own terms.
Ly-Cuong’s In The Nguyen Kitchen blends the joy of a musical with the heart of a personal drama, anchored by Chevalier’s charismatic performance.
In The Nguyen Kitchen opens in participating cinemas from 29 August, including cast and crew Q&As events organised by T A P E and MilkTea.
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Director: Stéphane Ly-Cuong
Stars: Clotilde Chevalier, Anh Tran-Nghia, Christophe Tek, Thomas Jolly, Camille Japy, Gaël Kamilindi, Leanna Chea
Runtime: 99 minutes
Country: France
