Em và Trịnh, the 2022 feature film directed by Phan Gia Nhật Linh,1 depicts the life and work of Trịnh Công Sơn (1939–2001)—an artist whose melancholic music and poetic lyrics make him one of the most beloved and influential songwriters in Vietnam today. Written by Phan Gia Nhật Linh, Bình Bồng Bột, and Nguyễn Thái Hà, the film was a commercial success, garnering box office revenue of 100 billion VNĐ (approximately 4.26 million USD) from a budget of 50 billion VNĐ.2 In addition to widespread circulation in Vietnam, Em và Trịnh was shown for limited screenings in the UK in 2022.

The film drew mixed reviews in Vietnam, with many celebrating its beautiful music, cinematography, and meticulously crafted settings, while negative responses focused on the perceived inaccuracy and inadequacy of the story and character depictions. Some local critics hold that the film is an illustrative rather than...

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