Song Lang

Set against the lush, golden world of 1980s Saigon, Leon Le’s debut feature film follows a blossoming relationship between debt collector Dung (Lien Binh Phat) and folk opera singer Linh Phung (played by Vietnamese pop star Isaac). In a chance encounter while collecting payment from a local troupe, Dung is unexpectedly drawn to Linh Phung, captivated by the singer’s passion for cải lương, also known as reformed theatre. As their paths intertwine, initial misunderstandings fade, and Dung’s stoic veneer begins to melt, revealing a deeper, unspoken yearning. Beneath the curtains of a fading, once-glorious art form, Song Lang reveals the unfolding desires of two men, the stage that frames them, and the stillness that lingers between their glances.

"Song Lang" refers to a wooden, tempo-keeping instrument used in Vietnamese folk opera, cải lương, also referred to as reformed theatre. In Sino-Vietnamese, the term "Song Lang" can also mean "two gentlemen" or "two wolves."

Directed by Vietnamese American filmmaker Leon Le, Song Lang offers a nostalgic ode to Vietnamese folk opera and a contemplative reflection on quiet intimacy and unlikely bonds.

Free Admission! Part of our “Love, Loss, and Longing” series. Courtesy of Breaking Glass Pictures. In Vietnamese with English subtitles.

Sponsored by the East Asia Program and the Southeast Asia Program at the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies and co-presented by QGrads, Cornell’s LGBTQIA2S+ Graduate Student Association.