In the Nguyen Kitchen

Tickets

This heartwarming musical comedy, set among Paris’s Vietnamese community, is like a contemporary spin on the classic The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.

Yvonne Nguyen (Clotilde Chevalier) is an optimistic singer and performer who dreams her life in songs and candy colours. The reality, however, is rather different. Failing to get the acting roles she desires, she moves back in with her mother who runs a restaurant. Then she gets the opportunity to star in a big-budget musical, which is not quite what she anticipated…

The film plays brilliantly with the prejudices and stereotyping that many Asian people face, but still retains an infectious playfulness and lightness. The musical numbers are a delight, but the film is at its warmest in the scenes where Yvonne and her mother bond over cooking. Up there with the most satisfying foodie films.

France 2025. Director Stéphane Ly-Cuong. With Clotilde Chevalier, Anh Tran-Nghia. 99 mins. 12A

Tickets from £5. 10% off for BAC Supporters