Watch Indochine

Indochine is a French film directed by Regis Wargnier that was released in 1992. The film is set in French Indochina during the 1930s and 1940s, and tells the story of a wealthy French plantation owner, Eliane Devries (Catherine Deneuve), who falls in love with her adopted Vietnamese daughter, Camille (Linh-Dan Pham), and the consequences of that forbidden love.

The film opens with Eliane on her plantation, where she is trying to negotiate with her plantation manager, Jean-Baptiste (Vincent Perez), who wants to leave Indochina and return to France. Eliane tries to convince him to stay, but Jean-Baptiste is determined to leave. It is clear from the beginning of the film that Eliane and Jean-Baptiste have a complicated relationship, and that Eliane is struggling to come to terms with her feelings for him.

As the film progresses, we learn more about the history of Eliane and Camille's relationship. Eliane, unable to have children of her own, adopted Camille when the girl's parents were killed in a car accident. Eliane raised Camille as her own daughter, and the two share a close bond. However, as Camille grows older, Eliane begins to feel a sexual attraction to her, which she is unable to admit to anyone, including herself.

The film is set against the backdrop of political turmoil in Indochina, as the French colonialists struggle to maintain control over the region in the face of growing Vietnamese nationalism. As tensions rise, the relationships between the characters become increasingly complicated. Eliane's love for Camille becomes more intense, and she becomes increasingly jealous of any other relationships Camille has, including a romance with a young Vietnamese man named Tanh (Eric Nguyen).

Meanwhile, Jean-Baptiste becomes involved with a Vietnamese woman named Yvette (Thanh Mai), who is involved in the nationalist movement. As he becomes more embroiled in the political situation, he begins to see the French colonizers in a new light, and he starts to question his loyalty to Eliane and the plantation.

The film is visually stunning, with breathtaking shots of the Vietnamese landscape and the French colonial architecture. The costumes and sets are also beautiful, and the film captures the tension of the political situation in Indochina without becoming too heavy-handed.

One of the most striking elements of the film is Catherine Deneuve's performance as Eliane. She is commanding on screen, and her portrayal of a woman struggling with her forbidden love for her daughter is both heartbreaking and beautiful. Linh-Dan Pham is also exceptional as Camille, conveying both the innocence of a young girl and the longing of a woman in love.

Vincent Perez gives a solid performance as Jean-Baptiste, but his character is somewhat underdeveloped. This is perhaps intentional, as the film's focus is on Eliane and Camille, but it does feel like a missed opportunity to explore the relationship between Eliane and Jean-Baptiste more fully.

Overall, Indochine is a powerful film that explores themes of forbidden love, colonialism, and political turmoil. It's a visually stunning film with remarkable performances from its cast, particularly Catherine Deneuve and Linh-Dan Pham. Fans of historical drama and romance will find much to enjoy in this film, and it's recommended for anyone who enjoys a complex and emotionally resonant story.

Indochine is a 1992 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 28 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.