Considered a masterpiece of Vietnamese cinema, Pham Ky Nam’s enduring classic, MS. TU HAU, is a product of the countries fledgling film industry which took rise during the war years. MS. TU HAU tells the story, as the narrator explains, of a “simple but exciting life of a genuine South woman.” Not so simple really, but exciting nonetheless. Tu Hau is a common woman from a fishing village whose husband has gone away to fight in the revolution. She takes care of her young daughter as well as her aging father-in-law. Soon, her peaceful village is attacked. From there a series of tragic events would befall Tu Hau. Each one would challenge her will. She survives so she can continue to raise her child. As a midwife, she puts aside her own grief to assist in a neighbor’s childbirth. Eventually her hardships drive her to join the resistance and ultimately makes the difficult sacrifice of leaving her child behind so she can help lead the front.
The commander of the People's Army of Vietnam Li with his detachment on the way to the front comes to a village completely devastated by the invaders. He stays in the house of a young woman Tu, who has two small children. Tu's husband did not return from the front, missing, and Lee, feeling sorry for the girl, presented her with the dress he bought, which he bought for his mother. Soon, Commander Li is heroically killed in action. He dreamed of a bright day of victory, but did not wait for it ... The war ended, and one of his front-line comrades Shau returns to that village again ...
