THE INSEMINATOR (Nguoi truyen giong) (2014) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Kim Quy Bui

Written by - Kim Quy Bui

Starring - Viet Son Le, Thu Trang Nguyen, Trung Kien Nguyen 

"THE INSEMINATOR paints the vulgar picture of a family living a rural and simple lifestyle in isolation in the Vietnamese forest. Its narrative is driven by the father, whose behaviour becomes increasingly sinister towards his daughter and mentally challenged son, due to his obsession with the nightmarish visions that occur to him, and that he takes as an omen of unspeakably horrible things happening to him should he not able to preserve his family seed. This means that he becomes more determined in having his son "insaminate" a woman just to prevent the end of the family line, a task that is obviously arduous due to his son's inability to be fully aware of what is going on around him. 

KIM QUY BUI is quite direct in his style that seems to blend a fine line between what is real and what is allegorical. This directness might sit uncomfortably with some of its viewers, who might see the film as being provocative to the point of controversial. At its core, however, it seems to be a satirical take on the genuine dangers of ignorance and old fashioned traditional ways of thinking. In doing so, the director allows a type of surealism to enter his storyline, which seems to have no restraint, and in some sequences the absurdity of its development and some of the events are genuinely funny. But it seems to be a wanted kind of humour, which heightens the extent of the pruposeful provocation. 

The sinister atmosphere is also enhanced by the good use the cinematography makes of the beautiful and mysterious Vietnamese forest. Strangely fascinating, this film is quite gripping from start to finish, and its daring nature that doesn't shy away from truly awkward graphic moments, is admirable and cohesive with the filmmaker's overall vision."

Drama, Vientam