The Beautiful Country (2004)

77% of critics liked it
(75 reviews)
75% of users liked it
(1,996 ratings)

A Vietnamese man looking for a better life embarks on a dangerous and eye-opening voyage to America in this powerful drama set during the early '90s. In 1990, Binh (Damien Nguyen) is a man in his early twenties who has never known his parents, though he is clearly of mixed-race parentage, which… More A Vietnamese man looking for a better life embarks on a dangerous and eye-opening voyage to America in this powerful drama set during the early '90s. In 1990, Binh (Damien Nguyen) is a man in his early twenties who has never known his parents, though he is clearly of mixed-race parentage, which makes him an outcast in his community. Weary of being treated like an animal, Binh sets out to find his mother, Mai (Thi Kim Xuan Chau), only to discover she works as a servant for a wealthy family who subject her to constant abuse, and that she has a baby son. When a household accident leads to the death of the matriarch, Mai, her infant, and Binh go on the run. Mai then confesses to Binh that she's dying, gives him all the money she has, and implores him to leave Vietnam for America, with his half-brother in tow. Unable to travel to America legally, Binh attempts to smuggle his way into the States aboard a ship; he's found out, and is sent to a prison camp in Malaysia, where he meets Ling (Bai Ling), a beautiful woman who has been forced into prostitution to support herself. Befriending Ling, Binh eventually arranges for passage to America aboard a refugee ship, though the harrowing voyage claims the life of Binh's half-brother. Binh and Ling arrive in New York City as illegal aliens, and soon learn that life in America can be just as harrowing as what they left behind; eventually, Binh runs away, hoping to make his way to Texas where he's learned that his father is living. Produced by Terrence Malick, The Beautiful Country also features supporting performances from Nick Nolte and Tim Roth. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 5 min.
Directed By: Hans Petter Moland
Written By: Sabina Murray, Larry Gross
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jul 8, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Dec 13, 2005
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Its epic tale of two cultures tragically entwined is anchored by deep and elemental emotions.
Jason Anderson, Globe and Mail
Conditions for the characters may be bleak, but their perseverance makes the story compelling.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
[A] graceful and yet harrowing drama.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
A poignant and affecting portrait of the war's lingering consequences.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
At times, the movie feels like a manufactured Asian Chocolat, which drives the label 'art house movie' even further into mainstream banality.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Along with 1983's El Norte and 1963's America, America, The Beautiful Country conveys something essential about the immigrant experience.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
This haunting film casts a wide swath that veers between obvious cliches and intensely visceral truths.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Provocative drama -- mature teens and adults only.
Kam Williams, Upstage Magazine
Worthwhile as an informative and touching reminder of the existence of a forgotten set of innocent victims of the Vietnam conflict.
Rex Roberts, Film Journal International
An ambitious movie made on a modest budget, its intention is better than its execution.
Camerin Courtney, Christianity Today
The most stunning beauty comes in human connections, physical touch, unconditional acceptance, familial love - in the treacherous and tender terrain of the human heart.
Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
A smart and moving sketch of desire and hope...
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
"The Beautiful Country" touches on many thorny social issues about the way the world works, but it's ultimately Binh's story, a truthful and heartening one.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland's ambitious but bleak social problem film is compelling but never fully satisfies in its clumsy dramatics.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Some of the plotting borders on ludicrous, and newcomer Nguyen is pretty much charisma-free.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
There's little said about what is driving Binh on this journey -- and without that, the trip is nearly as hard on audiences as it is on him.
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
A well-intentioned but not entirely successful blend of tragic melodrama, social-issue expose and compassionate portraiture...
Paul Doro, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
It's beautiful in its simplicity, exhibiting the kindness people are capable of and how profound that can be.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

Slow paced, yet intriguing. I should take away 1/2 a star for the unsatisfying ending, but I just couldn't make myself do it. This was very well done, very moving, and very well casted. No Disney ending here, but nice enough to not get me too mad...
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"The Beautiful Country" starts in rural Vietnam in 1990 where Binh(Damien Nguyen) is already an outcast in society for having an American father, but his adoptive mother's possible upcoming marriage may force him out even more into the cold. So, he… More
[font=Century Gothic]"The Beautiful Country" starts in rural Vietnam in 1990 where Binh(Damien Nguyen) is already an outcast in society for having an American father, but his adoptive mother's possible upcoming marriage may force him out even more into the cold. So, he packs up his meager belongings and heads to Ho Chi Minh City to stay with his mother(Thi Kim Xuan Chau) who works at a mansion as a maid. While there, he meets his much younger half-brother and learns the identity of his father from his parents' marriage certificate. She gets Binh a job at the mansion but an accident forces him to flee along with his younger brother. Their aim is to get to Houston, Texas where Binh's father is from but first they are detained in the purgatory of a refugee camp in Malaysia.[/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Beautiful Country" is a visually stunning and moving film about finding your own place in the world. But too many events take place for convenience's sake, not out of any dramatic logic. And it is sorely lacking in three dimensional characters. The superior "In This World" covered some of the same territory in a more harrowing vein.[/font]
Stefan P

Turns into a very gripping movie after a slow beginning. A few unexpected twists adds to the suspense. We get to see both misery and hope when the characters is searching for the American dream. Great acting and photography.