Love in Vietnam is an Indian-Vietnamese romantic drama film written and directed by Rahat Shah Kazmi. It is based on the novel Madonna in a Fur Coat and stars Shantanu Maheshwari, Avneet Kaur and Kha Ngan in lead roles. It is a triangular love story set in Vietnam.
Story:
The film Love in Vietnam brings to screen a cross-border love story between India and Vietnam. The story begins with the friendship of childhood friends Manav (Shantanu Maheshwari) and Simmi (Avneet Kaur) and takes new turns in Vietnam. Manav is raised by his Bade Papa (Raj Babbar) and he sends him to Vietnam to study farming. Simmi also goes with him whose childhood dream is to become Manav’s bride when she grows up. After reaching Vietnam, Manav sees Linh’s (Kha Ngan) painting and falls in love at first sight. The story progresses towards a love triangle and emotional conflict. To know the further story, watch the film and know whether it is of childhood friend Simmi or Vietnamese girl Linh?
Writing and Direction
The writer and director of the film Love in Vietnam is Rahat Shah Kazmi and the story is based on the novel Madonna in a Fur Coat. The biggest strength of the film is the location of Vietnam and its cinematography. From cities to natural scenes, the camera captures the beauty of Vietnam very well. These visuals give some relief to the audience. The story and screenplay of the film are weak which makes the film ordinary. The direction seems unbalanced.
Acting
Love in Vietnam hero Shantanu Maheshwari brings charm but fails to bring emotional depth. Avneet Kaur tries to inject energy but fails to make an impact due to the limited role. Kha Ngan is a beautiful part of the film but I find her character incomplete. The roles of senior actors like Raj Babbar and Farida Jalal are very small and fail to bring any life to the film.
Music
This is a love story and music plays a big role in a love story. This film also has many music composers as per today’s trend. Some songs have been made well and fit well in the situation of the story.
Overall
Love in Vietnam had all the potential to be a great cross-border love story—a new setting, a new theme, and a chance to connect with audiences. But the weak screenplay is a missed opportunity. The beautiful locations and some brief moments of good cheer from the supporting cast provide some relief, but not enough to lift the film out of its mediocrity.
