by Phuong Mai
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Hot ticket: A poster for Nhung Nu Hon Ruc Ro (The Brilliant Kisses). |
HCM CITY — The Tet holiday has been the premiere season for Vietnamese films for many years and this year has been no exception.
Movies of different genres – horror, romantic, thriller and musical – have been released over the last two weeks.
With a little touch of horror, Khi Yeu Dung Quay Dau Lai (Another Chance for Love, Another Chance for Life – the line made famous by Eric Segal's classic Love Story) shows the mysterious love between a dancing girl and a ghost saxophone.
Directed by Vietnamese-American Nguyen Vo Nghiem Minh, who has won top prizes at international film festivals in France and the US with Mua Len Trau (Buffalo Boy), Khi Yeu Dung Quay Dau Lai is the first romantic thriller released during the Tet holiday.
The film, produced by four media companies – Thien Ngan (Galaxy), HK Film, Cinebox and Thanh Nien Corporation – features young actress Ngan Khanh as dancer Nghenh Xuan and fashion model Thanh Thuc as a ghost-saxophone Bach Du. It was released across the country's cinemas on February 5.
The Thien Ngan Studio also released on January 27 a comedy, Nhat Ky Bach Tuyet (Snow White's Diary), directed by Le Bao Trung.
The film tells the story of a girl who becomes delusional after an accident and believes that she's Snow White. She then sets off on a bittersweet adventure with seven dwarfs and a fake prince.
The film stars supermodel Vinh Thuy, Miss Fashion Truong Chi Truc Diem, and outstanding comedians like Minh Nhi, Hong Van and Tan Beo.
Director Nguyen Quang Dung has followed the success of Giai Cuu Than Chet (Saving the Angel of Death) with another musical, Nhung Nu Hon Ruc Ro (The Brilliant Kisses) that traces the path of female resort owner whose dreams of becoming a singer come true.
The BHD Studio production, released on January 27, also features a love triangle involving the resort owner (super model Thanh Hang), bodyguard (Quang Le) and room service waitress (singer and actress Minh Hang).
The film took Dung and his staff several months of casting for actors through the HCM City Television reality show Not Nhac Ngoi Sao (Star Notes).
Phuoc Sang Film Production's Cong Chua Teen Va Ngu Ho Tuong (Teen Princess and Five Bodyguards) highlights the obstacles that a teenage singer and her five bodyguards have to overcome to launch and protect her singing career.
The film stars famous Vietnamese-American comedians like Hoai Linh and Chi Tai as bodyguards and nearly 40 other known comedians across the country. Singer Bao Thy plays the role of the teenage singer. The film was released on February 4.
The formula of gathering famous celebrities and shooting in beautiful locations has failed to impress viewers this year, it appears.
"The film left me confused," said Nguyen Cam Tien of Binh Thanh District after watching Khi Yeu Dung Quay Dau Lai.
He was not sure if the film emphasised the strong love of a dancer for her saxophone lover, or the complicated affairs of dancer Xuan who easily falls in love with saxophone Bach Du, playboy Thanh Phong (Thanh Thuc), as well as her boss (Thanh Loc).
Meanwhile, Dung's Nhung Nu Hon Ruc Ro uses lyrics and melodies to convey characters' feelings to the audience. However, while melodies can help hide the sometimes nonsensical dialogue in Vietnamese films, they cannot express completely the characters' true feelings. Moreover, the actors' singing skills are not convincing.
"I appreciate the film as one of Vietnamese first musicals, but the actors' acting as well as singing skills have not touched me," said Dao Bich Thuy of Dong Nai Province's Bien Hoa City.
The comedies have fared better, with the audiences enjoying a few laughs, despite some unsuccessful parts. — VNS