Directed by Charlie Nguyen
Review by David Carter


Released by Genius Products, LLC
Running Time: 104 minutes
Rating: Rated R
Color format: Color
Audio/Subtitles: 5.1 Dolby Stereo Vietnamese or English/English and Spanish Subtitles
Region Code: 1, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen
16:9 Enhanced: Yes
Special Features: Two Disc “Ultimate Edition”: commentary, second disc with six featurettes, stills gallery
Trailer Online: Yes

Short Version: Incredibly intelligent martial arts film from Vietnam

Despite being the site of one of the country’s most controversial conflicts, the history of Vietnam prior to the Vietnam War is largely unknown to most Americans. France had established colonies in Vietnam as early as the mid-eighteenth century and thus the region had been embroiled in fighting for decades before American involvement. French Indochina is rarely depicted in cinema, with the lone notable exception being an excised scene from APOCALYPSE NOW that made reference to it. The harsh colonial rule by the French serves as the backdrop for 2007’s THE REBEL, the most expensive – and acclaimed – film in Vietnamese history.

Rebellions against colonial rule reached a fevered pitch during the early twenties, so the French colonial government employed secret police forces of Vietnamese officers to quell unrest. Cuong is a member of the team led by Sy, a vicious man not above murdering his own people to further his career. Cuong is conflicted about being used to oppress his own people having seen first hand how cruel the French can be. Any doubts he has about which side he should be on are erased when the assassination of French official leaves several fighters on both sides dead. Cuong later learns that Sy could have prevented the attack but allowed it to take place in an effort to draw out the rebels, meaning Cuong was forced to kill some of his own countrymen in Sy’s attempt at political gain.

Cuong’s decision to join the rebellion is sealed when he meets Thanh Thuy, the gorgeous daughter of rebel leader De Canh. He helps her escape from prison but learns that it will take far more before she is able to trust him. Cuong secures false papers for them both and agrees to lead Thanh back to the rebel stronghold to join forces with her father. Along the way they must escape from the colonial armies and Sy’s men and may be unwittingly drawing all three sides into a deadly confrontation.

THE REBEL succeeds because it adds a powerful dramatic framework to the martial arts film formula. Cuong’s story gives the fight sequences context and thus an emotional weight; you care about the good guy because you believe in what he’s fighting for, not simply because the film has told you to do so. THE REBEL is less about man versus man and more about the oppressed versus their oppressor. The titular rebel is Thanh, not Cuong, as she represents the spirit of the rebellion. When she fights it is for her people, not political gain (Sy) or personal revenge (Cuong). Unfortunately the resonance may be lost on those unfamiliar with the history of Vietnam, but the scene where she stops a French official from whipping her is a very powerful one. Its closest cinematic kin would be BRAVEHEART and the scene has additional cross-cultural meaning because it is a woman who stands up to the oppressors while the males watch helplessly.

THE REBEL is still a martial arts film first and foremost, however, and the fight scenes are stunning. They bear a stronger resemblance to the hard-hitting styles of Thai cinema than they do the balletic fights of Hong Kong and are characterized by brutal knees and elbows and acrobatic kicks. You’ll wonder how the actors weren’t legitimately injured and may even cringe during some scenes, but, again, since the fights are given a narrative context you won’t be able to look away. 21 Jump Street’s Dustin Nguyen has dropped off the radar in America but his performance as Sy is nothing short of star making. Sy is powerful, intelligent, and wholly evil, and Nguyen’s performance conveys all of this masterfully.

Genius Products LLC/Dragon Dynasty knows the proper way to introduce these films to the American market, and THE REBEL comes on an excellent two-disc set loaded with extra features. You’ll be able to spend several hours combing through the featurettes and you’ll likely want to after seeing the film. THE REBEL took me by surprise. I’d heard nothing about it prior to viewing it and, quite frankly, didn’t expect it to be as good as it was. It is a highly entertaining film that offers a look into Vietnam’s seldom seen film industry and offers a fresh take on the martial arts genre. It shouldn’t be missed.