Buffalo Boy

Directed by Nguyen-Vô Nghiem-Minh, Buffalo Bill is a unique film that shows the harsh realities of living in Southeast Asia during rough seasons of flooding. Taking place along the coast of Vietnam during the French occupation in the 1940s, the lesson-enhanced film follows a coming-of-age journey. The film follows Kim, who is 15 years old. Kim's father and step-mother are two buffalo owners who play their lifeline role as they are struggling rice farmers. However, when heavy rain hits their homeland, there is no healthy grass for their buffalo, causing the animals to starve. Kim volunteers to take the animals inland to search for food. On his journey, he witnesses the brutality of others' lives and how the French is further adding to the distress of the impoverished individuals. While struggling to survive in his homeland, dark secrets and tragedy strike Kim as his family's dark past comes to light. While the beginning starts slow, Buffalo Boy is an overwhelming and well-put-together film that shows the themes of life, tradition, and family. In 2006, the movie was declared an official entry from Vietnam in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 78th Academy Awards. Along with the previously mentioned award, the film was also nominated for a Vietnamese Golden Kite Award for Best Feature Film.