In old Hanoi, Bi, a six-year-old, lives with his parents, his aunt, and their nurse. His favorite place to play is an ice factory. After years of absence, Bi’s grandfather returns from abroad, seriously ill, and stays with them. Gradually, a relationship is forged between Bi and his grandfather as Bi’s father drifts farther from the family. Each night, his father gets drunk and seeks comfort in the arms of a hairdresser who he is infatuated with. His mother turns a blind eye and showers the grandfather with affection. Bi’s aunt, a prudish high school teacher, meets a high schooler on a bus. Her attraction to him upsets her.
Phan Dang Di’s films have been screened at festivals globally, including Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Hong-Kong, Moscow, Stockholm, Vancouver, and Busan. He won the ACID and SACD prizes at Cannes for his first film, “Bi, Don’t Be Afraid !” His second film, “Big Father, Small Father, and Other Stories” was selected for the Golden Bear prize of Berlin. He is also a professor of Cinema History and screenwriting. Furthermore, he is the founder and president of Autumn Meeting, which meets every year with the new generation of Vietnamese and Asian filmmakers.
