Sister Em 2 is one of the two Vietnamese films that beautifully captures the Tet holiday of the Year of the Cat 2023. As of now, after two weeks of release, the work by director Vũ Ngọc Đãng has achieved approximately 86 billion VND in revenue. Overall, it is still considered a remarkable outcome compared to the Vietnamese film industry last year. Currently, Sister Em 2, previously titled The Matriarch, is in the running phase to boost its box office revenue before the blockbuster Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania releases on February 17.
It is undeniable that the box office success of Sister Em 2 is largely attributed to the powerful word-of-mouth marketing from audiences, as well as the significant media coverage it has received. However, observing the content related to Sister Em 2 appearing on social media and various film articles, one can easily notice a general trend. The spotlight mainly revolves around the provocative scenes featuring Ngọc Trinh.
Ngọc Trinh’s Provocative Scene
In Sister Em 2, Ngọc Trinh plays the role of Nhi, a flower seller in the bustling streets of Bờ-rệt. In the opening scene of the film, Nhi is seen adjusting her dress on the street when she is splashed with water from a passing car driven by Ba Trà (Minh Hằng). Soaked from head to toe, Nhi crouches down to collect herself. Then, she walks gracefully despite her revealing outfit, attracting the attention of passersby.
Just a few moments later in the scene, Ngọc Trinh continues to captivate the audience as Nhi enters Ba Trà’s house, leaving her outfit behind, showcasing her stunning figure. In later parts of the film, the character Nhi repeatedly “loses herself,” catching the audience’s attention multiple times as she dons various revealing outfits.
Regarding the narrative structure and character psychology, this segment generally makes sense and fits well with the personality of a girl who is naive yet lacks the wisdom, like Nhi. Recently, these scenes have sparked considerable discussion among viewers and media when mentioning Sister Em 2. At a certain point, when referring to the film, people generally tend to think of the provocative scenes rather than any other elements.
In the first three days of the new year, coinciding with the initial release, Sister Em 2 only garnered 21 billion VND – an average of 7 billion VND per day. Closing the Tet holiday on January 26, the film earned 36.5 billion VND and still hasn’t reached the 40 billion VND mark – a number that is considered a significant achievement for a Vietnamese film. The revenue of Sister Em 2 began to surge after the Tet holiday – particularly with scenes showcasing Ngọc Trinh’s allure becoming the main subject for media coverage and social media discussions. In the past week, Sister Em 2 has added approximately 48 billion VND from ticket sales – a figure that greatly exceeds its total revenue during the Tet high season.
On January 30, the official fanpage of Sister Em 2 shared a 28-second video clip from the film’s opening, featuring Ngọc Trinh’s provocative scene. The clip received 1,800 views, 1,000 comments, and 272 shares – significantly higher than the total views of promotional content prior to its release on this fanpage. This specific video has also ignited a wave of debate surrounding the film since its debut, drawing both media and audience attention.
Not only did the production house utilize Ngọc Trinh’s provocative scenes to attract customers, but the fanpage of a prominent film distribution system in Vietnam also sparked public debate when using video clips as promotional material to attract viewers. Ngọc Trinh’s provocative posts, sharing audience reactions to Sister Em 2 on her personal Instagram story, also contributed to the film’s viral marketing strategy.
The film’s production house has “dared” to utilize controversial scenes to promote the film, which is named Sister Em 2, and it is not surprising that thousands of viewers were drawn to share these images. Indeed, Ngọc Trinh’s scenes are among the most memorable moments in Sister Em 2 that audiences will remember when discussing the film. In this latest work by Vũ Ngọc Đãng, we are witnessing a film scene that undoubtedly highlights the shocking and provocative nature of the content, especially concerning sexual themes.
However, the provocative scenes of Ngọc Trinh, as stated by director Vũ Ngọc Đãng and the production company Will Vũ, were intentionally calculated by the production house. The main focus is not only to build the image of a flower-selling girl who is innocent but also to spark discussions among audiences. Nevertheless, the audience’s reaction to Ngọc Trinh is much more discussed than the actual content that happens on screen, indicating a lack of clarity regarding the filmmakers’ intentions. A film with a central character who repeatedly reveals her body and showcases her skin, how can it be seen differently if Ngọc Trinh does not stop?
Sister Em 2 explores the story of two girls in Saigon during the early years of the 20th century with a strong sense of female empowerment. However, watching the film, viewers can recognize the first and constant standards that two main characters consistently reflect – which is to entice wealthy men. The flower-selling girls in Bờ-rệt are judged based on their ability to attract wealthy men, and the “hot girls” often compete with each other to win the favor of the wealthiest suitors, while Ba Trà’s teachings revolve around how to enhance their value in the eyes of these men… The contrast between Ba Trà and Tư Nhĩ at the end of the film also reflects the complex dynamics and struggles between different societal roles. In other words, the film portrays a subtle trend of female empowerment that cannot be hidden.
Not only does it fail in the approach to narrative storytelling, but the film also loses its grip on the plot by building overly simplistic connections, leaving many romantic subplots unresolved. Throughout Sister Em 2, characters continuously engage in dialogue with each other, yet every conversation seems to be superficial, aiming only to highlight the protagonist’s struggles to escape a superficial identity: how to be a girl from a poor background like Nhi, while being stripped down to the core of her being, and how society looks down upon her reputation in order to become the centerpiece of a malicious scheme? How can Ba Trà, known for her beauty and charm, be so easily dismissed as just another face in the crowd… As if every time the film tries to resolve a problem, it ends up creating more issues for the audience.
Ultimately, in a film that is meant to enthrall yet leaves a bitter taste, the only scenes that truly stand out are Ngọc Trinh’s revealing moments. It is clear that Nhi appears. It portrays a girl as a wealthy, greedy person, yet ultimately, she remains unable to escape her true essence. The reality of Ngọc Trinh’s character, alongside a few humorous moments, leaves the audience with a feeling of disillusionment regarding the film’s intentions.
While the dramatic tension of the film is quite compelling, Ngọc Trinh’s revealing appearances are excessively prolonged. Right from the film’s opening, Nhi has already stripped down to reveal more than just her skin; in the remaining parts of the film, her fashion choices seem to lack modesty, as she wears revealing outfits that showcase her skin. It creates an overwhelming feeling of discomfort (discomfort due to the character’s personality), leaving audiences wondering if there’s anything beyond Ngọc Trinh’s striking appearance in Sister Em 2.
