Viet Nam News
by Nguyen Thuy Binh
Road trip comedy Chay Di Roi Tinh (Lost In Sai Gon) is the first movie to entertain Vietnamese movie buffs on the occasion of Tet (Lunar New Year), one of the two busiest seasons for the Vietnamese film industry.
Launched at the end of last month, nearly a month before the first day of the Lunar New Year, the movie is being screened with English subtitles nationwide. The movie is the second production by directors Namcito and Bao Nhan.
"We decided to release Lost In Sai Gon earlier because we wouldn’t have to compete fiercely with many other Vietnamese movies and foreign blockbusters as well during Tet," said director Bao Nhan. "I am seeing in Tet releases this year."
Lost in Sai Gon is the story of bar singer Phuong Trinh, who decides to sell her wedding ring because of a poor life with her husband - a soybean milk seller, and her 12-year old son. Her family and a gang of robbers clash in a jewelry shop. Accidentally, the son records an image of the robbers and then the gang begins hunting for the three-member family.
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| Scenic scene: A still from Rung Xanh Ky La Truyen (Magical Forest) produced by Song Vang Studio. — Photo film crew facebook |
More than a half of the film’s 100 minutes is devoted to scenes featuring escapes. But the deeper meaning is that the trip is also an escape for the wife and the husband. The singer-wife wants an escape from her poverty-stricken life, which as been an obsession since childhood, while the husband escapes, at least momentarily, from the fact that their relation is getting worse.
Hua Vi Van and Diem My play the roles of the husband and wife respectively. Lost in Sai Gon also features comedian Viet Huong and veteran singer Bao Yen. Songs in movie are performed by Ho Quynh Huong.
This is the second collaboration between the directors and movie crew, including the actors and singers. Their first one, Gai Gia Lam Chieu (The Last Egg) was released early this year.
The husband’s role also changes the image of heartthrob Hua Vi Van. He had to stop exercising to look like the poor husband.
The movies slated for Tet release include Ban Gai Toi La Sep (She is The Boss); Luc Van Tien: Tuyet Dinh Kungfu (Luc Van Tien: Kungfu Hustle); Rung Xanh Ky La Truyen (Magical Forest) and Nang Tien Co 5 Nha (The Pretty Woman).
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| Tiff: Actress Miu Le and actor Do An in Ban Gai Toi La Sep (She is The Boss). — Photo film crew facebook |
Contrary to early launch of Lost In Sai Gon, She is The Boss by director Ham Tran will be delayed until February 3 (the seventh day of Lunar New Year). This is the fourth movie by Vietnamese American director Ham Tran. Last year, his Sieu Trom (Bitcoin Heist) failed to make an impression at the box office.
She is The Boss is a remake of ATM: Er Rak Error, Thailand’s seventh top grossing-film of all time. The romantic comedy is expected to entertain a large audience. Last year, Em La Ba Noi Cua Anh (Sweet 20), remake of a South Korean production, was a money-spinner during the long holiday.
Director Ham Tran and producers Galaxy M&E are hoping She is The Boss will be a hit, with celebrities Miu Le and Do An starring in it. Miu Le was a part of Sweet 20, the highest-grossing Vietnamese movie. Do An is a businessman and also famous as model Le Thuy’s husband.
In 90 minutes, audiences will follow a love story between a bank staff and his boss who are always arguing at work,
Luc Van Tien: Kungfu Hustle is the first movie by actor-turned-director Hoang Phuc. His wife is the producer. The movie is based on Luc Van Tien, the 19th century epic of the same name by Nguyen Dinh Chieu. It is also a love story, between the poor but talented Luc Van Tien and wealthy girl Kieu Nguyet Nga. The movie follows Luc Van Tien who finds himself in modern day Viet Nam in search of his true love.
Phuc has cast overseas Vietnamese actor Andy Long in the main role. Andy Long is best known as a member of the legendary Jackie Chan Stunt Team in movies like CZ12 Chinese Zodiac; Police Story 2013 and Dragon Blade.
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| Back to the future: Vietnamese-German Andy Long plays the leading role in action-comedy Luc Van Tien: Tuyet Dinh Kungfu (Luc Van Tien: Kungfu Hustle). — Photo maactioncinema.com |
The action-comedy also stars model Diep Lam Anh, Kim Tuyen and veteran artist Thanh Loc.
Local reports say that costumes used in the movie are likely to be talking point among the audience. Director Phuc has paid a lot of attention to it, having about 12 sets of ao dai (traditional dress) designed for Kieu Nguyet Nga, and taking more than two months to design the wardrobe for Luc Van Tien.
"I added some details to the film to make it contemporary, but the story’s significance about the power of true love, bravery and justice is eternal," said Phuc, who also wrote the script.
"I spent VND12 billion (US$538,000) on the film to ensure production quality."
The director signed up local martial artists to co-ordinate the movie’s fight scenes to make them authentic. "I believe my film will bring true scenes and beautiful images of the Vietnamese landscape to audiences," Phuc said, adding that it was shot in Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Long An provinces.
The movie will be released nationwide on January 28 (first day of the Lunar New Year) in Lotte Cinema.
Another actor-turned-director, Khuong Ngoc, is in the race for the best movie of the season. His second movie is a comic fantasy, Rung Xanh Ky La Truyen (Magical Forest), produced by the Song Vang (Golden Waves) studio.
The movie is about a man who lives in a forest with mysterious creatures. From its trailer, it appears to be a Vietnamese version of Tarzan. The film stars Meritorious Artist Hoai Linh and famous comedians Thu Trang and Tien Luat.
"To present our ideas on screen, we’ve use new filming technologies," Ngoc said.
A Song Vang spokeperson said a lot of money has been spent on 3D effects for the movie. It will be launched on January 20 nationwide.
Nang Tien Co 5 Nha (A Pretty Woman), also a comedy, is a production by veteran Tran Ngoc Giau. A young, beautiful girl (Kha Ngan), who aims to ’manage’ four rich men at the same time.
The movie, carrying English subtitles will be released on January 27.
This year’s Tet provides films diverse in both theme and form.
However, whether or not these films succeed depends only partially on their content. Approximately 50 per cent of a film’s success depends on its marketing campaign. Only BHD for one, has been actively marketing the film Lost In Sai Gon before and during showing time. It has even organised a photo exhibition on the film’s production, set up film background with about 100 stuffed sheep for audiences to take photos, and published a photo book on behind-the-scenes tales. — VNS