Nguyên Lê

About me, my market, and what I love most about my work.
I’m a bilingual Vietnamese-English writer currently based in Houston, Texas (and, on that note, Go Coogs!). Regarding my work, despite facing the notion that it isn’t trendy enough on a semi-regular basis, I love that I know there are people who will read my works or even have been waiting for them. And so while I do comment on films or series like the next critic you meet, I place emphasis on those with an Asian-centric or Vietnamese-centric element. 

This is my passion project, or passion in general.
I love to have more people be informed and interested in Vietnamese cinema, or productions from or featuring talents of Vietnamese descent. We are present, firstly, but we are also more than any interpretation that is out there. My most immediate passion project is to contribute—an essay, subtitles or even both—to a Criterion release of one of the Vietnamese films I’ve suggested, such as Song Lang, Three Seasons (Ba mùa), The Rebel (Dòng máu anh hùng), and Third Wife (Vợ ba). 

What it means to me to be part of the CCA.
Being in CCA allows me to show people that what I do is serious, as well as who I am as a writer. Why, yes, I may be a young member, but it’s good to let people know that there’s a reason, or multiple reasons, I’m here among folks I admire, some of whom are my unofficial film criticism mentors. 

My favorite film/TV series that I am currently watching and why.
I’m on a Park Chan-wook run at the moment, with the proposed endpoint being the phenomenal series The Little Drummer Girl. Its espionage component I feel will make an excellent primer for the upcoming The Sympathizer series (and look at all the of-Vietnamese-descent talents involved!). 

My social media and where you can find my work.
@nle318 on Twitter, @nguyen.le.334 on Facebook and @thevietwhoviet on Instagram! Alternatively, I have my portfolio page at REEL318 (reel318.wordpress.com) where I keep track of all my work. Hope you’ll come by!