Vietnamese film on a roll in international festivals

HA NOI — Cameraman Ly Thai Dung of Vietnamese film Cha Cong Con (Father and Son) won Best Cinematography at the Barcelona Planet Film Festival.

The monthly cinematic event is in its second year, and it aims to showcase innovative independent cinema from around the world. It is also expected to be the voice and representation for films from around the world with a unique voice and message, regardless of how low the budget might be.

Father and Son was also nominated by the organisation boards of both the Euro Kino Czech International Independent Film and the Canada International Film Festival, and it was submitted to upcoming film festivals including Worldfest-Houston Film Festival, ECU-European Independent Film Festival and Austin Film Festival.

The movie, directed by Luong Dinh Dung, was named Best Feature Film award in Canadian Diversity Film Festival last November.

Director Dung said that one of his aspirations is to introduce his first brainchild to international friends via film festivals. He believes that the audience will be conquered by the plain, souful beauty conveyed through Vietnamese stories and imagery.

“These [awards] are the first sweet fruits to the film crew of Father and Son after years of dedication. I have been totally satisfied with what I have accomplished and believe that Vietnamese audiences will welcome it once it is widely screened,” Dung said.

Adapted from the novel of the same name written in 1995--also by director Dung--the film tells the story of a boy named Ca who has always dreamed of touching the clouds and of a father who has spent his whole life fishing by the river.

The film stars Do Trong Tan from SOS Children’s Village Viet Tri as Ca and actor Ngo The Quan as Ca’s father.

Father and Son is expected to be screened in Viet Nam’s cinemas this April. — VNS