Finding Phong

Director: Tran Phuong Thao and Swann Dubus
Release Year: 2015

"Finding Phong" (2015) is a powerful and intimate documentary that captures the emotional and physical transformation of Phong, a young Vietnamese individual born as a boy, but who has always identified as a girl. Directed by Tran Phuong Thao, an independent Vietnamese filmmaker, in collaboration with French cinematographer Swann Dubus, the film explores the complexities of gender identity, self-discovery, and the societal challenges faced by transgender individuals in Vietnam.

Love Man Love Woman

Director: Nguyen Trinh Thi
Release Year: 2007
Original title: Chuyện thày Đức

In 2007, Vietnamese filmmaker Nguyen Trinh Thi released the documentary Love Man Love Woman, a poignant exploration of gender, identity, and spirituality in the context of the Dao Mau tradition, a popular folk religion in Vietnam. The film focuses on a community of effeminate gay men who serve as spiritual mediums in religious ceremonies, blurring the lines between gender, sexuality, and faith in a country where social norms tend to reinforce heteronormativity. At its heart, Love Man Love Woman provides an intimate portrait of individuals who defy societal expectations and explore the intersection of religion, performance, and personal identity.