★★★½☆
Tunnels: Sun in the Dark is a dramatized war film that recreates, and uses fictional characters to tell, a fictional story based on real people, a real place, and real events. Although it is fictionalized enough, the central storyline and characters should have been better developed and crafted to create a more well-rounded, character-driven, and cohesive narrative.
The film opens with a soldier finding a man hiding in a river while on patrol, only to discover that their mothers were close friends before their passing. He isn’t an enemy trying to ambush them, but rather someone searching for his mother’s friend.
Which naturally allows them to form a bond. While it isn’t the backbone of the story, it becomes its grounding factor.
“The film’s core focus is people. Everything happens for, and because of, the people.”
With a script by Bùi Thạc Chuyên that captures the heart of the Vietnamese resilience during the war, it also highlights the insightful tactics they used, including the tunnel systems, underground paths, and hidden bases.
The film offers an insightful look at the inner workings of the tunnels and how the Vietnamese fought the war, defending against air strikes and airborne attacks.
Although insightful and detailed, that isn’t the core—or even the most interesting—building block of the film. It’s the characters, their mission, and their dedication to it.
The film is, at its core, a character-driven narrative with an appealing story. While based on actual events, most of its details are fictionalized or dramatized. With that being said, there is a lack of development for Tu Dap and Ba Hương, who from the beginning form a bond that feels as though it will become the centerpiece of the film. That connection never truly fades, but the story shifts its focus and never fully returns to it.
Which is one of the script’s weakest points.
The film’s core focus is people. Everything happens for, and because of, the people. Yet two of its most compelling characters aren’t developed as much as they should have been.
Tu Dap is one of the film’s most interesting characters despite having some of the least screen time. That would have been more forgivable had so much of the narrative not been dramatized for theatrical effect.
“The action sequences are just as gripping and intriguing as the character moments.”
Bùi Thạc Chuyên’s direction is steady, fluid, and well-paced despite the script’s shortcomings. The pacing remains consistent throughout, utilizing every aspect of the production to create smooth transitions between scenes and maintain the film’s momentum.
The action sequences are just as gripping and intriguing as the character moments, offering engaging sequences that pull you in for different reasons but with similar results.
K’Linh Nguyen’s cinematography is well maintained throughout, offering interesting and well-crafted shots without ever becoming mesmerizing.
The visuals capture each scene effectively but rarely enhance the emotional or physical weight of what’s unfolding. They simply capture what is happening on screen. Nothing feels intentionally artistic or stylized. Instead, the cinematography provides suitable compositions that execute the film visually.
Clovis Schneider’s score is more calculated and thoughtfully implemented. It never overwhelms a scene, instead being strategically placed and used throughout. It adds a subtle flair that pairs nicely with the sound design to enhance the film’s strongest moments.
Drawing emotion and heightening the momentum of nearly every frame.
Hồ Thu Anh’s performance stands out among the cast as one of the film’s strongest, displaying the greatest range, depth, and charisma.
Her character arguably possesses the richest emotional foundation, allowing for a layered performance that showcases a wide range of emotional conflict. Many of the other characters experience similar situations, yet rarely respond with the same emotional complexity.
“A well-executed war film that allows viewers to experience the Vietnam War from a different perspective.”
Making its North American Premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival, Tunnels: Sun in the Dark is a well-executed war film that allows viewers to experience the Vietnam War from a different perspective. Pulling from a real place, real events, and a real timeline, the film remains grounded even while dramatizing its story.
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