A Dream in Hanoi (2002) User Reviews

Waiting for Bill

[shawn_mb2 · 6/10 · 16 December 2002]

Good documentary about an American theatre group who travels to Hanoi to perform "A Midsummer Nights Dream" in partnership with a Vietnamese theatre group. Those who enjoyed the HBO series "Project Greenlight" will like this clash of styles and cultures which was ultimately funny and touching. American and Vietanmese actors must work together during a bilingual play despite not speaking each other's languages. The only problem I had was that some of the actors felt like they were "acting" when being interviewed for the documentary. Overall, this is a feel good film that could have some success in the art houses.

P.S. The film reminded me of Waiting for Guffman when the theatre troupe got news that Bill and Hillary Clinton may be attending opening night. An energy is added to the film (will they show or not)

An Exemplary Documentary About Shakespeare in Vietnam

[janos451 · 7/10 · 3 September 2006]

Tom Weidlinger's "A Dream in Hanoi" is the feature-length, honest, no-holds-barred story of an American-Vietnamese co-production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in Hanoi in 2000 (well before today's virtual love-fest between the two countries).

In the film, the Artists Repertory Theater of Portland, Oregon, and the Central Dramatic Company of Vietnam struggle together (and frequently against each other) to stage a bilingual production of the play. Improbably, cameras keep rolling through squabbles, hostilities, misunderstandings, exhaustion and moments of insight and discovery.

With the mixed Vietnamese-American cast, virtually no knowledge of the other language, hemmed in by strange Communist-but-commercial rules and regulations, the actors struggle with basic differences between cultures.

Emoting openly or (heavens!) kissing on stage is extremely difficult for the Vietnamese actors; the Americans - especially the technical staff - are driven to distraction by three-hour lunch breaks and no semblance of a schedule.

The Portland dramaturg (and instigator of the project) is reduced to tears when the Vietnamese director insists on deep cuts in the text because "the information has already been conveyed." The American director desperately tries to keep things on an even keel. Oh, and no tickets can be sold until government censors attend a performance, meaning that the house for the premiere needs to be filled with "volunteers," even though the producers are expected to raise money. Communist rules in a capitalist environment - a puzzlement.

And, as long as Bill Clinton is visiting Hanoi at the same time, why not have the President at the premiere? It is not to be and the project is kicked out of the Opera House where something else is being produced for the visit. The entire project is jeopardized and producers and directors from the two sides are ready to kill their counterparts. The film's end is suspenseful, moving and memorable. You're likely to remember these people for a long, long time.

Waiting for Clinton

[thestartviasatellite · 6/10 · 21 April 2007]

I felt like I was watching Waiting for Guffman. The subjects for this doc were just as ridiculous as any Christopher Guest could have created:

The neurotic producers and directors fighting behind the scenes...

the over-compensating American actors trying to adapt to Eastern stage values...

the drama over whether or not Clinton will be attending the first production...

it just goes on.

The confessionals really give you a feel for how ridiculous the entire experience must have been. Watch this back-to-back with the Guest film and you'll see what I mean.

Really. This was hilarious.