Set in feudal 19th-century Vietnam, The Third Wife tells the poignant story of May, a 14-year-old girl who becomes the third wife of a wealthy landowner named Hung. Upon entering the household, May quickly learns that her value and status in the family depend on her ability to bear a male child.
Living among Hung's other wivesโHa (the first wife) and Xuan (the second wife)โMay observes the power dynamics, desires, and quiet rebellions of the women around her. She witnesses secret affairs, emotional struggles, and the painful realities of patriarchal tradition.
As May becomes pregnant, she initially feels hope that a son will secure her future. However, as she begins to understand the cost of submission, tradition, and silence, her innocence slowly erodes. A tragic event involving another young woman in the household forces May to question her fate and agency, setting her on a subtle but powerful path toward self-awareness.
