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At the Height of Summer
User Score
9.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11

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  1. MildaM
    Dec 7, 2005
    10
    Marvelous!!!!
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. DanaB.
    Jul 31, 2001
    8
    Languid, beautiful and understated. Also, rent "The Scent of Green Papaya" if you haven't seen that yet (same director).
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. RienB.
    Aug 4, 2002
    10
    These moments are those I wake up from the a beautiful dream strung into a film. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  4. JenniferS.
    Aug 25, 2001
    10
    Sublimated sensuality at it's best!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  5. ChadS.
    Aug 5, 2004
    6
    "The Vertical Ray of the Sun" is most successful when the camera follows Lien(Tran Nu Yen-Khe) and her brother Hai(Ngo Quang Hai). Their chummy relationship pushes the beautiful cinematography to a subordinate role, since an engaging story isn't always a consistent when the film explores the lives of Lien's two older sisters. Since the film is democratic in distributing screen time, this possible incestuous relationship isn't resolved in a satisfying manner. To save time, Lien just dates other men, because writer/director Anh Hung Tran hides the open ending to this strange relationship. Tran goes for a big comic moment to qualify Lien's indoctrination into a well-adjusted life, but it feels forced. A girl that's inexperienced with the opposite sex is acceptable, however, Lien's utter naivety about menstural matters is hard to swallow, since she has two close sisters and a deceased mother. "The Vertical Ray of the Sun" has a more ambitious story than "The Scent of the Green Papaya", which could be a problem if your bread and butter is atmosphere and stunning photography. … Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  6. JudyR.
    Jul 17, 2001
    10
    A beautifully shot, sensually flowing film.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  7. B.R.S.
    Sep 17, 2001
    9
    Simply superb. I've seen it twice, and will see it again. Not only beautiful to look at, but the issues raised are universal-- life doesn't always turn out how you imagine it will.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
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Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. New Times (L.A.)
    Reviewed by: Bill Gallo
    80
    It's a bewildering but deeply satisfying paradox, this constant, nearly silent collision in Tran's films of the visible world and the turbulent, unseen world.
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  2. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    50
    Story is fairly conventional and not especially well told, though as usual Tran's images are so sensual and beautiful that I was rarely bored or frustrated.
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  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: J. Hoberman
    60
    Filled with bird sounds, Vertical Ray is almost surreal in its paradise imagery -- the movie is a sultry, harmoniously expressionistic riot of pale greens and deep yellows.
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