Sound in the Scent of Green Papaya

In the 1999 film, Scent of Green Papaya, directed by Anh Hung Tran, sound was the most crucial element in explaining the narrative. Though there were several bold scenes in Papaya in which music dominated the action, the scene with Mui cleaning the floor really stood out. Through a combination of natural and non natural sounds, Vietnam is born. In this scene, the audience is shown the confirmation of Tin’s poor behavior, the dedication of Mui, and the complexity of the elder brother’s character.
Loudness is the first element of sound and helps the listener perceive distance. This is especially demonstrated as Mui is cleaning the floor. As she gets closer to Tin the music is getting louder indicating we are getting closer to the action- which is Tin spilling the water out of the bucket. The music creates suspense and at first seems inappropriately placed but then it really does fit.
Pitch is also a very important aspect in the scene. I am not knowledgeable about music but pitch is a helpful tool to help the viewer distinguish distinct sounds. When the younger brother, Tin, is sleeping, the older brother is gathering his things. In addition to the sound that he makes, there is a deep whizzing and buzzing sound. Because of the depth and the different pitch, its easier to isolate that specific sound. It shows industry and occupation yet it is never explicitly mentioned.
Timbre provides the feel or mood of a sound and Tran is a master of timbre. Through each tune she evokes emotion from the viewer and sets the basis for the scene. The sound that plays as Mui makes her way down the hall is whimsical bold yet also daunting. A mood is created that something is is going to happen. Finally Tin dips his feet in the bucket and the background music is stopped.
Silence plays an equally important role. Because the silence is rare, it holds a great power. At the end of the scene at the hallway, Tin farts. Although it is quiet, there are still crickets and other insect sounds audible to the viewer. Tran puts so much emphasis on the fart because it is a bold move and therefore it is assigned a bolder sound.
Finally there is the dimension of sound: rhythm, space, and time. The lack of rhythm is what makes each scene so perfect. It completely violates the viewers movie expectations. By pairing music that is completely unexpected, Tran completely defies the traditional movie going experience. By placing bold sounds with what appear to be action-less scenes she stirs emotion and creates an alarm which really perpetuates the action. Without the sound, the movie would be empty.


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