The film titled What Jennifer Did has captured the attention of audiences worldwide. This journey into the dark truth surrounding the Pan family has resulted in one tragic death, leaving viewers shocked and horrified. Furthermore, the film has gained popularity among Vietnamese viewers due to its numerous details, prominently featuring Vietnamese culture, while also sparking some controversies.
Specifically, in the first third of the film, viewers are introduced to the shocking details surrounding Jennifer Pan from nearly 15 years ago. Alongside this, Netflix provides insight into the Pan family through various elements such as their neighbors, friends, and more. In particular, a girl named Hong Ngo frequently visited the Pan household, often engaging in play and sharing meals. She expressed in a Vietnamese interview, “There were times I went to her house to play, and she had delicious food. It was really fun and quite messy. Her brother worked five days a week, and he would even do overtime. He didn’t participate in drinking games or anything like that. He was just a regular guy.“
Hong Ngo – the friend of the family
At this point, What Jennifer Did has vividly depicted the life of Hong Ngo through several images showing the Vietnamese family’s dining culture, emphasizing how Hong Ngo often partook in meals at the Pan household. It is worth noting that the representation of Vietnamese cuisine in the film has provoked various reactions, especially from Vietnamese viewers, who expressed their concerns regarding authenticity. The dining table in What Jennifer Did features an array of typical Vietnamese dishes, which many viewers found to be quite inaccurate.
The table includes dishes like braised pork, sour soup, alongside other traditional foods such as pancakes and sticky rice cakes. The ambiance in the film depicts characters wrapping pancakes while the backdrop features a large bowl of sour soup, yet there seems to be no accompanying rice on the table.
This detail has currently ignited discussions among Vietnamese netizens. Some criticize the Hollywood team for “trying to understand the culture,” but failing to accurately represent Asian culture, while others argue that the creators should have consulted actual Vietnamese individuals to ensure authenticity. “They probably just Googled ‘Vietnamese food ideas’ and picked a few dishes that caught their eye, not realizing they were misrepresenting the cuisine…” remarked one netizen.
However, there are also viewers who believe that despite the brief appearance of these images in the film, it doesn’t warrant excessive scrutiny, and instead, viewers should focus on the main content of the film.
Viewers critique the representation of Vietnamese cuisine in the film
Currently, What Jennifer Did is still holding the number one spot globally, streaming on Netflix. The film revolves around the shocking murder that occurred on November 8, 2010, leading to the arrest of Jennifer Pan, who was later found guilty. Along with her boyfriend, she orchestrated a plot to deceive the police and stage a home invasion, resulting in the tragic death of her parents. However, the survivor’s testimony played a crucial role in bringing Jennifer Pan to justice and highlighted the aftermath of her actions.
