On the farm: A scene from Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh, which is bringing in viewers with its casual and familiar landscape. — VNS File Photo

HA NOI (VNS) — A movie with very simple content but stunning visuals and a great soundtrack has captured the imagination of local audiences.

Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh (I See Yellow Flowers upon the Green Grass) by director Victor Vu has become somewhat of a phenomenon among local movie lovers.

If you like films with deep storylines, you might be in for a disappointment because the script does not contain the highs and lows of a Hollywood blockbuster. It's just snippets about life in a poor area of Viet Nam's countryside.

Set in the mid-1980s in a small village, the movie follows the story of two young brothers, Thieu and Tuong, who share everything, but compete for the affection of the same girl, Man.

Viewers will be immersed with scenes and memories of school, from costumes to games all filmed in the central province of Phu Yen.

Victor Vu focused on the beauty of the Vietnamese countryside for his film, with immense rice paddies, low houses and swaying bamboo trees, which can suddenly turn into barren fields with dead cattle littering the landscape in the wake of a natural disaster.

It features simple-minded farmers who are willing to support each other during hard times, and innocent children. It also highlights some of the bad customs as well as memories of the difficult times during the period of state-subsidised economy, when a black and white TV set was a luxury.

The most striking point of the movie are its visuals. They are nothing new but present a true reflection of the natural beauty of the countryside.

The acting is not excellent, but good enough and more natural than most Vietnamese films, and some of the scenes are laugh-out-loud.

The soundtrack is also one of its strong points. Light music with traditional notes has the audience humming the tunes when they leave the cinema.

However, the film falls short in terms of storyline and cohesiveness, leaving just a simple journey back to the countryside in the 1980s. However, it's still worth watching.

Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh, based on the book of the same name by Nguyen Nhat Anh, is expected to make VND100 billion (about US$4.4 million) at the box office after nearly selling out. It was released with English subtitles in cinemas nationwide last Friday. — VNS