Monsoon at HOME

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor
HOME

Monsoon at HOME Manchester, Manchester 25 September — 23 October 2020 Tickets from £5.50 — Book now

Henry Golding is mightily impressive in Monsoon, the new film from Lilting director Hong Khaou. The last few years have seen the charismatic Malaysian-British actor make the most of Hollywood roles in the likes of Crazy Rich Asians, A Simple Favour and Last Christmas. This latest turn sees Golding working in a quieter, more contemplative mode as Kit, a British-Vietnamese man returning to his birth country of Vietnam for the first time in three decades in order to scatter his parents’ ashes.

Not quite a tourist, but no longer familiar with the language, pace or customs of the country he left as a refugee at eight-years-old, Monsoon follows Kit as he struggles to reacquaint himself with a new, modern Ho Chi Minh City. Adrift, Kit reconnects with an estranged childhood friend (David Tran), and embarks on a tentative romance with Lewis (Parker Sawyers), an African American man with his own wartime connections.

The film is composed in moody tones, with striking shots emblematic of present day Vietnam: lush tropical foliage contrasted with neon-lit bars and emergent contemporary architecture. With much of the drama internal and unspoken, Khaou trusts his star to carry this thoughtfully-assembled tale of immigration and alienation. Golding duly rewards the filmmaker with a moving performance that ensures Monsoon is never less than compelling.

Monsoon at HOME Manchester, Manchester 25 September — 23 October 2020 Tickets from £5.50 Book now

What's on at HOME Manchester

Where to go near Monsoon at HOME

Manchester
Restaurant
Indian Tiffin Room, Manchester

Indian Tiffin Room is a restaurant specialising in Indian street food, with branches in Cheadle and Manchester. This is the information for the Manchester venue.

The Ritz Manchester live music venue
Manchester
Music venue
The Ritz

The Ritz was originally a dance hall, built in 1928, has hosted The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and The Smiths and is still going strong as a gig venue now.

Homeground
Manchester
Event venue
Homeground

Homeground is HOME’s brand new outdoor venue, providing an open-air space for theatre, food, film, music, comedy and more.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Burgess Cafe Bar
at IABF

Small but perfectly-formed café – which also serves as the in-house bookstore, stocking all manner of Burgess-related works, along with recordings of his music. It’s a welcoming space, with huge glass windows making for a bright, welcoming atmosphere.

Rain Bar pub in Manchester
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Rain Bar

This huge three-floor pub, formerly a Victorian warehouse, then an umbrella factory (hence the name), has one of the city centre’s largest beer gardens. The two-tier terrace overlooks the Rochdale canal and what used to be the back of the Hacienda, providing an unusual, historic view of the city.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Briton’s Protection

Standing on the corner of a junction opposite The Bridgewater Hall, The Briton’s Protection is Manchester’s oldest pub. It has occupied the same spot since 1795, going under the equally patriotic name The Ancient Britain.

Castlefield Gallery, Manchester
Castlefield
Gallery
Castlefield Gallery

The influential Castlefield Gallery sits at the edge of Manchester’s exciting Castlefield district, an ideal home for thought-provoking contemporary art.

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