Our Review

                Movie:  A FRAGILE FLOWER

            Rating:  NR, in Vietnamese with                                        English subtitles`

                            Length: 1:38

             Release Date: March 29, 2024

Jeanne: Young and very beautiful singer Thach Thao, played with great sensitivity and charm by Maya Mai Thu Huong, has the perfect opportunity to finally be noticed. Director/producer Mai Thu Huyen’s new Vietnamese film, A FRAGILE FLOWER, filmed entirely in the United States, is a moving love story enhanced by a multitude of entertaining new songs.

Thach has lost both her parents, so she lives with her cousin, Ellie (Trizzie Phuong Trinh), who is also a singer. She encourages Thach to take the stage in a club for the first time. Thach’s voice is so unusual and mesmerizing that she immediately catches the attention of Son (Quoc Cuong), Director of Music Productions at SET Center.

He invites Thach to the SET offices to meet his wife and business partner, Yvonne (played by the film’s director, Mai Thu Huyen), and to discuss creating a musical film called “A Fragile Flower”. He also wants Thach to benefit from the guidance of the famous singer, Le Khanh (Khat Ha).

As Thach flourishes under the tutelage of Son and the film’s director, Dang (Duc Tien), all the men around her fall in love with her, including Son. She also catches the eye of billionaire Bao Hoang (Anh Dung), who desires Thach for himself. And then there is Ngoc (Baggio Saetti), a young musician who is completely enthralled with Thach, always there for her no matter what.

Thach Thao seems to have everything she could want. She’s turned into an overnight singing sensation, but her relationship with Son, though platonic, has caused many problems. And then her health becomes an issue. Where will all of this lead the gorgeous rising star?

A FRAGILE FLOWER is truly a lovely and unique movie. The winning original script by Nhat Ha conveys the emotional turmoil and unbridled joy experienced by Thach Thao as she navigates her newfound fame. Director of Photography, Quyet Tran, has done a masterful job capturing all the splendor of America as the backdrop of this love story, as well as the drama as it unfolds.

But most important are the performances by Maya and Quoc. As Thach, Maya is simply ethereal. Her beauty and grace transcend the screen --- and are only matched by her spectacular singing voice. She’s marvelous in this role. And Quoc is equally compelling as a man torn between his love for Thach, a woman he is helplessly drawn to, and his commitment to his wife and her daughter.

A FRAGILE FLOWER is a story for the ages. Audiences will be wowed by each and every song --- and the illustrious voice of Maya Mai Thu Huong.

Opinion: See It Now!

David: A FRAGILE FLOWER tells the story of a beautiful young Vietnamese singer named Thach Thao whose meteoric rise to fame creates tensions and problems in her inner circle. She also endures a severe physical ailment that threatens her career and livelihood.

At the heart of this film is the conflict between the music producer, Son --- who discovers Thach --- and his wife Yvonne, a strong woman who also makes a discovery, namely that her husband is in love with Thach. This trio, with Maya Mai Thu Huong as Thach, Quoc Cuong as Son and Mai Thu Huyen as Yvonne, offers credible performances in what evolves into a sad tale of unrequited love.

A FRAGILE FLOWER, in fact, boasts a veteran cast with impressive credentials in Vietnamese cinema and television circles. The movie is also the first Vietnamese film to be shot entirely within the United States. Much of the movie is framed around Thach’s repertoire of songs, and there can be no denying Maya’s musical talents. As ably portrayed by Maya, the character of Thach wins the audience’s sympathy at every turn.

Mai Thu Huyen does double duty on A FRAGILE FLOWER. Not only is she the co-lead actress but she also directs. Her frequent roles behind the camera have resulted in numerous honors at film festivals in locales as varied as India, Vietnam and the U.S.

As for Quoc, we can feel his character’s pain and inner conflict. He apparently loves his wife but cannot suppress his feelings for Thach. A FRAGILE FLOWER features a surprise twist at the end that may leave moviegoers gasping.

Opinion:  See It Now!