Movie Review: Ky Nam Inn
Screened at Stockholm International Film Festival 2025
One-liner: Tender co-lead performances, a wistful tone and ornate visuals drive this close-knit, slow-moving and overlong romance drama.
Ky Nam Inn is a coming-of-age romance drama from writer-director Leon Le about a translator and the older widow whom he befriends. Set in post-war Saigon within a close-knit community, his translation of ‘The Little Prince’, as well as the customs and culture of the neighborhood, become the central focus of this ornate drama. Using a soft color palette, Ky Nam Inn takes its time, embracing an old-world quality that’s reflected in both the visuals and the edit. In this gentle drama touched by romance, events unfold in quiet moments rather than through grand gestures. This soft nuance and exercise in micro-expressions prioritizes stillness over overt sexuality, making Ky Nam Inn quaint and disarming.
A true gentleman, Khang endears himself to the community, remaining honourable in the way he broaches the potential romance. At first treated like an outsider, his gentle persistence and calm demeanour become the currency of love. Coming in at over two hours, the film lingers, taking its time to swathe you in the atmosphere of this bustling Vietnamese community. Beautifully photographed, Ky Nam Inn does carry a moving still life quality, aided by its breezy soundtrack.
The dialogue shifts from soft whispers to insightful philosophical musings, contrasting the older generation with the younger romance. Pearls of wisdom are communicated throughout this surprisingly tender film. Despite a broad cast, the performances are mostly solid, hinging on the enigmatic co-lead pairing of Lien Binh Phat and Do Thi Hai Yen and the wistful tone of their unspoken connection. Peeling away the layers, the drama feels like the stuff of pen pals – a reversal of today’s culture of technology-infused instant gratification.
While a bit too slow-moving for some, Leon Le’s Ky Nam Inn offers a chance to step into the moment with the characters. Unfortunately, as noble and earnest as the film is, the setup has a TV quality; while beautiful to look at, it feels more like TV drama than cinema. Rarely venturing far from the closed spaces of the apartment complex, the setting can become claustrophobic and even cloying.
“You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.”
There is a welcome culinary element to the drama, and the poetic, tender tonal qualities are refreshing in an age where cinema has become brash and on the nose. However, while this softness is appreciated, the loose plotting and focus on aesthetics mean that very little actually happens in the world of this gentle story. Words are prized and feelings are hinted at, making nuance and fine details vital. Yet, when it comes to cinematic language, these subtleties can unfortunately be lost. The lack of action and narrative sluggishness can cause the film to drift from slow-moving to dull.
While the innocence and sincerity of the emotional interplay and performances keep you invested, Ky Nam Inn dedicates itself to the still, intimate moments of the heart. Perhaps a tighter edit and a greater focus on the overarching political and social landscape would have given the drama more heft and scope. As it stands, it is a competently made, well-written and nuanced film that, despite its best intentions, may be too slow and subtle for its own good.
The bottom line: Tender
