Private Project

Once upon a bridge in Vietnam

February 2020. Following the death of his Vietnamese grandmother, a young French music reporter decides to discover Vietnam through investigations into classical music and get enrolled in an epic journey.
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At the same time, Vietnamese journalists are interested in his quest for origins and follow the progress of the film...

  • François Bibonne
    Director
  • François Bibonne
    Writer
  • François Bibonne
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    52 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    March 25, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    France
  • Country of Filming:
    Vietnam
  • Language:
    English, French, Vietnamese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - François Bibonne

My name is François Bibonne and I spent 15 months in Vietnam exploring the country of my grandmother, Therese Nguyen Thi Koan.

As a classical music fan and a graduate of history, I was fascinated by Vietnam’s historic roots in classical music.

I filmed my first documentary "Once upon a bridge in Vietnam" in 2022-2021. I came back to France this summer and launched my own company named Studio Thi Koan.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The conductor of the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, Honna Tetsuji, allowed me to begin filming rehearsals and concerts, and to establish a network with new music projects for young people in Hanoi and Saigon.

It was at this time that my research led me to cross paths with a traditional Vietnamese musician who inspired me to learn more about Vietnamese traditional music culture. We went to the North of Vietnam with a crew of musicians, and I could feel the presence of my grandmother in their music and in the landscape of the nature there.

I finally took part in a mission I had not imagined when leaving France...

The content of the interviews with musicians was the history of Western classical music in Vietnam, and the relationship between France and Vietnam.

Because the post-covid era needs to refresh cultural bridges between countries, Once Upon a Bridge in Vietnam aims to close that gap as it celebrates Vietnam through both classical music and Vietnamese music.

More than digital tourism, this documentary is an exploration of cross-cultural languages through musical composition, an insight into the rich and wonderful history of Vietnam and its conflict and reconciliation with France. Both history and music lovers will thoroughly enjoy this in depth study into the colorful and vibrant world of Vietnamese music culture.

Most of the interviews were conducted with female musicians who represent a source of inspiration for Western countries. We interviewed people from four different generations including one young musician based in Norway. These talented musicians are testament to the international influence of music culture, and are an inspiration for other young women who dream of becoming musicians themselves.

The beauty of the documentary lies in its transmutability; to travel from the Hanoi opera house to jungles and rice-fields in the countryside, from international music to ethnic music. These combinations bring unique contrasts that inspired many composers in Vietnam.

It shows that Vietnam is a very special country with a very diverse music scene and a united music community.

The choice of the soundtrack highlights the connection between Vietnamese traditional music and western classical music with beautiful compositions.

The documentary is also a tool to prompt music lovers and universities to focus on more about the richness of music history in Vietnam.