The Anniversary (Ngày Giỗ) is a 2003 live-action short film written, edited and directed by Ham Tran, about two Vietnamese brothers who meet each other in the Vietnam War. The short film won 25 international awards for Best Short Film and was among the semi-finalists for the 2004 Academy Award.[1] [2] [3]
The Anniversary(2003) is a poignant tale set against the backdrop of Vietnam's turbulent history. In 1963, a young boy and his mother are left in Saigon while his father and older brother flee northward, seeking refuge from religious persecution. A decade later, during the Vietnam War in 1973, the two brothers cross paths in a fateful and tragic confrontation, unaware of their shared bond. Fast forward thirty years, the younger brother, now a Buddhist monk, remains tormented by the harrowing memories of war, loss, and betrayal. On the anniversary of his brother's death, the weight of the past resurfaces, highlighting the enduring scars left by conflict.[4]
This heart-wrenching narrative captures the complexities of family, loyalty, and identity, reflecting the deep emotional wounds borne by many Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American families even decades after the war.
The main cast of The Anniversary (2003) is as follows:[5]