THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION (2026)
Branded Film, Director's Cut USA/Vietnam
After the fall of Paris, Lionel and Nana return to Saigon as climate refugees with colonial habits. Trapped inside a private karaoke room purchased in the name of protection, Nana is forced to confront the fruit of a marriage system built on patriarchal shame—and awaken her way out.
Director's blurb
Directing this piece brought my commitments to narrative fluidity and collective improvisation into new territory. I had been having long conversations with Hải Anh about obsession and infatuation, and with Samuel about masculinity. I talked to props master Nick for hours about various Vietnamese fruits and what they represent. I had a beautiful wedding dress by Ragged Romances and epic karaoke rooms to work with.
Simultaneously, it's become a recurring phenomenon for me to be in Saigon while everything burns down back West. From literal deadly wildfires to terrorism and losing my friend to gun violence, then wars, genocides, and Epstein Files... the idea of fleeing "back" to Vietnam, from where my Mom fled not so long ago, comes up for me all the time, and creates a lot of deep moral and personal pain that lead inevitably to overwhelm.
An opportunity to direct a branded fashion piece with a designer whose view on creative process matched mine completely. What a gift! With profound trust and support from my Saigon film family, I wanted to see what would happen if I tried to hold all of these ideas and feelings in one film. Thus, it's taken a long time to figure out what this film wants to be in the edit. My process has always been some version of experimental, but this took experimentation even further. It's exciting to put out something with no attachment to anything but curiosity. I don't take for granted how lucky I am to have a team of people who believe in my directing enough to completely let go as we stumble through ideas together and shape a discovery.
Most exciting for me was capturing Hải Anh step into her first on-camera role and knowing that we were witnessing a natural and divine talent tap into itself. She and Samuel together are amazing to work with, and all getting to play around in French for the first time with our one and only Linh Đan, it was incredibly fun and fulfilling.
THANK YOU to all who contributed to this very special experience with the unknown. Hope you can take a watch and let me know what you see!
Brand Partner Ragged Romances, Ho Chi Minh City
Starring Hai An & Samuel An
Directed by Marion Hoang Ngoc Hill
Written by Marion Hoang Ngoc Hill, Hai Anh, Samuel An
Cinematographer Nguyen Phan Linh Dan
Music by SAIGON JAZZ REVIVAL
Production Designer Nick Ng
Wedding Dress Designer Rosii Nguyen
Produced by Vinh Hao Trung
Branded Film, Director's Cut USA/Vietnam
After the fall of Paris, Lionel and Nana return to Saigon as climate refugees with colonial habits. Trapped inside a private karaoke room purchased in the name of protection, Nana is forced to confront the fruit of a marriage system built on patriarchal shame—and awaken her way out.
Director's blurb
Directing this piece brought my commitments to narrative fluidity and collective improvisation into new territory. I had been having long conversations with Hải Anh about obsession and infatuation, and with Samuel about masculinity. I talked to props master Nick for hours about various Vietnamese fruits and what they represent. I had a beautiful wedding dress by Ragged Romances and epic karaoke rooms to work with.
Simultaneously, it's become a recurring phenomenon for me to be in Saigon while everything burns down back West. From literal deadly wildfires to terrorism and losing my friend to gun violence, then wars, genocides, and Epstein Files... the idea of fleeing "back" to Vietnam, from where my Mom fled not so long ago, comes up for me all the time, and creates a lot of deep moral and personal pain that lead inevitably to overwhelm.
An opportunity to direct a branded fashion piece with a designer whose view on creative process matched mine completely. What a gift! With profound trust and support from my Saigon film family, I wanted to see what would happen if I tried to hold all of these ideas and feelings in one film. Thus, it's taken a long time to figure out what this film wants to be in the edit. My process has always been some version of experimental, but this took experimentation even further. It's exciting to put out something with no attachment to anything but curiosity. I don't take for granted how lucky I am to have a team of people who believe in my directing enough to completely let go as we stumble through ideas together and shape a discovery.
Most exciting for me was capturing Hải Anh step into her first on-camera role and knowing that we were witnessing a natural and divine talent tap into itself. She and Samuel together are amazing to work with, and all getting to play around in French for the first time with our one and only Linh Đan, it was incredibly fun and fulfilling.
THANK YOU to all who contributed to this very special experience with the unknown. Hope you can take a watch and let me know what you see!
Brand Partner Ragged Romances, Ho Chi Minh City
Starring Hai An & Samuel An
Directed by Marion Hoang Ngoc Hill
Written by Marion Hoang Ngoc Hill, Hai Anh, Samuel An
Cinematographer Nguyen Phan Linh Dan
Music by SAIGON JAZZ REVIVAL
Production Designer Nick Ng
Wedding Dress Designer Rosii Nguyen
Produced by Vinh Hao Trung