Ky Nam Inn
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Theatrical Screenings
Muranów
Kinoteka 1
Muranów
Online Availability
Additional Materials
Film description
In post-war Saigon, 1985, a young translator from the North named Khang arrives in the city to work on a new translation of The Little Prince. He moves into a bustling, old tenement block where he meets Ky Nam, an older widow who runs an intimate local eatery. When Ky Nam has an accident, Khang offers to help her in the kitchen. Spending time together and sharing meals gradually crumbles the wall Ky Nam has built around herself, allowing her to face her unaddressed grief and the lingering shadows of her past. Despite the differences that separate them – age, origins, and life experiences – a deep affection begins to bloom between them. Overshadowed by social taboos, the new political order, and the watchful eyes of their neighbours, their relationship becomes a long-sought refuge from overwhelming loneliness.
The second feature film from Leon Lê, director of Song Lang (2018), had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Set against the backdrop of post-war social divides between former South Vietnamese residents and newcomers from the North, the film stands as a nostalgic homage to the city of the director's childhood. The picture was shot entirely on 35mm film.
text:
Lucyna Szczykutowicz
Leon Lê
Born in Saigon in 1977, Leon Lê grew up in Vietnam until the age of 13, when he moved with his parents to Southern California. After college, he moved to New York City to pursue his dream of performing on stage and began a career in musical theatre. He established himself as an accomplished actor, singer, and dancer, even performing on Broadway. He also worked as a photographer and appeared in television series, as well as taking supporting and minor roles in American and Vietnamese films.
Leon Lê is a self-taught filmmaker who never attended film school. His short films Dawn (2012) and Talking to My Mother (2014) attracted attention from audiences and critics on the film festival circuit. His feature debut, Song Lang, was screened at the 12th Five Flavours.
2012 Dawn (short)
2014 Talking To My Mother (short)
2018 Song lang
2025 Pod dachem Ky Nam / Quán Kỳ Nam / Ky Nam Inn
Festival guests
Leon Lê
film director and screenwriter

Nguyễn Thị Minh Ngọc
screenwriter


