Living in Fear
Synopsis
Living in Fear is set in Ninh Thuận Province, shortly after the reunification of Vietnam. The story follows Tải, a former soldier of the Republic of Vietnam. After spending time in a re-education camp, he returns to his hometown to start a new life. Tải has two wives. His first wife, Thuận, has a brother named Hai Dân, a Communist cadre who also happens to be Tải’s childhood friend. His second wife, Út, whose background is not detailed, is a street vendor at the local market.
Tải moves in with Út and, desperate to make a living, joins Năm Đực, a former Liberation Army guerrilla, to scavenge unexploded bombs for scrap metal. He invents a safer and more effective method of digging from beneath the bombs instead of above them. As he disarms each one, he plants crops on the same land.
Director's biography
Bùi Thạc Chuyên (born October 11, 1968) is an acclaimed Vietnamese filmmaker known for his stylistic versatility and emotional depth. His notable works include 12A and 4H (1995), Sống trong sợ hãi (2005), Chơi vơi (2009), Lời nguyền huyết ngải (2012), Glorious Ashes (2022), and Tunnels: Sun in the Dark (Địa đạo: Mặt trời trong bóng tối, 2025). He has also directed three impactful documentaries: Xẩm (1998), Tay đào đất (2002), and Không sợ hãi (2021). Though few in number, his works have garnered numerous national and international awards. He has received four Best Director Awards, including at the Golden Kite Awards (2005 & 2023) and the 16th & 23rd Vietnam Film Festivals.