SOUTHERN VIETNAMESE ART DURING THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM (1954–1975): A STUDY OF THE CINEMA

The Geneva Accords ended French colonial rule in Vietnam and temporarily divided the country into two zones governed by different political and social systems. In this context, the large-scale migration from North to South in 1954 significantly influenced the political, cultural, and social development of southern Vietnam. Cinema also evolved within these broader historical transformations. While revolutionary cinema in North Vietnam has received considerable scholarly attention, film production in South Vietnam during the Republic of Vietnam (1954–1975) remains relatively understudied and presents methodological challenges for researchers. Nevertheless, Saigon cinema of this period has been discussed by several authors, including Kiều Chinh, Huỳnh Ngọc Tráng, Nguyễn Hữu Thái, Hiền Hòa, and Ngô Kế Tựu. Much of this literature consists of memoirs and reflective accounts written by actors, producers, journalists, and cultural figures who participated directly in the film industry. These works provide valuable insights into the general landscape of cinematic life in southern Vietnam under the Republic of Vietnam. However, significant gaps remain in existing scholarship. Important questions persist regarding the objectives behind the promotion of cinema by the United States and the Republic of Vietnam. Was cinema developed primarily as entertainment, or did it also serve broader cultural and political purposes? In addition, how did South Vietnamese cinema between 1954 and 1975 differ from earlier cinematic traditions and from the revolutionary film movement in North Vietnam? Using historical and logical research methods combined with interdisciplinary approaches such as statistical analysis, analytical interpretation, and synthetic evaluation, this study builds on previous scholarship to provide a preliminary examination of the objectives, genres, and thematic orientations of Saigon cinema from 1954 to 1975. It also analyzes the main characteristics, contributions, and limitations of the South Vietnamese film industry during this period.