HA NOI — What It's All About by Thanh Bui, a Vietnamese-Australian singer-songwriter, has been chosen as the soundtrack for Everyday, a film directed by Richard Levine.
The song was co-written by Bui, Alf Touhey and Van Anh Nguyen, members of an Australian-based band called the Artisans.
Bui, who was born in 1983, said they had been working on the song since 2007, trying to capture the meaning of life when a loved one passes away.
Everyday, starring Liev Schreiber and Helen Hunt, will be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival in April. It premiered in the US in January and was released on DVD earlier this month.
The film, which also co-stars Carla Gugino and Brian Dennehy, is about a family's struggle to survive the unexpected curve-balls that are simply part of real life; ageing and death; commitment and freedom; love and acceptance.
It's an uncompromising look at an ordinary family making an extraordinary journey, towards themselves and towards each other.
City conservatory to host concerts
HCM CITY — The International Choir and Orchestra of HCM City will be performing two concerts on May 27 and 28 at the Conservatory of Music in District 1, featuring the music of Mozart and Vivaldi.
Both of the shows will open with Vivaldi's Gloria at the request of Trish Franklin from the Loreto Viet Nam Australia Program, one of the nominated charities that will benefit from the show.
"Trish has been pestering me for years to sing this piece, so I agreed to do it only if she came and sang it with us," Brian Riedlinger, artistic director of the choir&orchestra, said.
The Coronation Mass, one of the most popular of Mozart's 17 mass works, will also be played.
Other pieces by Elgar, as well as an orchestral piece featuring classical guitar, will also be featured.
Proceeds from the concerts will benefit needy children in Viet Nam through Loreto Viet Nam Australia Program and Poussieres de Vie (Dust of Life).
Ticket, from VND300,000 (US$14) to VND450,000 ($21.5) each, will be available from March 28 for groups and early April for individuals. Contact the choir via the website www.hcmcchoir.com or email tickets@hcmcchoir.com.
Lucky Luke comics go on sale
HCM CITY — A local publisher has bought the rights to translate and publish the Lucky Luke comic series from Lucky Comics in France.
The series familiar to readers around the world depicts the tales of an attractive male cowboy traveller, Lucky Luke, who is always ready to help the needy, enforce justice and help those in dangerous circumstances.
The first book of the series Ga San Tien Thuong (The Bounty Hunter) will be on sale in bookshops around the country this week.
Lucky Luke, created by Belgian artist Morris in 1947, has been translated into 32 languages.
Youth Publisher translated and published a number of Lucky Luke series in 1998-99 with Morris's approval without having to pay royalties to the Belgian artist. After Morris's death in 2001, the publication ceased.
In response to demands from young readers and their parents, First News and Tre Publisher bought the copyright to translate Lucky Luke and will publish two editions of the comic each month.
Ha Noi Nikko calls for Japan donations
HA NOI — The Japanese-owned Hotel Nikko Hanoi has called on all its guests and any other kind-hearted people to make donation to victims of the earthquake in Japan.
Donation boxes have been placed in the hotel lobby and its three restaurants as well as at the fitness centre.
According to the hotel's management board, the money raised would be sent to the Japanese Red Cross Society.
The hotel will also donate part of the revenue from April 1 to support thousands of Japanese who are suffering from problems such as diseases, homelessness, lack of food and other basis living conditions. — VNS