The Scent of Green Papaya

This exquisite, Oscar-nominated, 1993 French-Vietnamese film begins in 1951 and ends more than a decade later during the early stages of the Vietnam War. Set almost entirely in a Saigon house owned by a wealthy shopkeeper (Truong Thi Loc), the story initially centers on 10-year-old orphan Mui (Man San Lu), who works as a servant and eventually becomes the object of her mistress' fond affection. The child is quietly and carefully observant of everything in her surroundings, from the scent of green papaya to the relationships between various members of the household, and her simple goodness has a benevolent effect on those around her. As she grows into a beautiful young woman and her employers' fortunes decline, Mui (now played by Tran Nu Yen-Khe) leaves to work for a family friend, a sophisticated pianist with whom she slowly falls in love. What's astonishing is that director Tran Anh Hung shot the film entirely on a soundstage in Paris, yet the sights and sounds are so completely convincing that you'd swear you were seeing a secluded corner of Saigon. Newly remastered for DVD and Blu-ray, extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette and a stills gallery. Life affirming and glorious in its captivating simplicity, this is highly recommended. (J. Shannon)