Clutch of new movies on the way

Thrilling times: A poster for Lenh Xoa So (Death Sentence) which will open nationwide in April.

HCM CITY — Film studios are working on a raft of new projects, including comedy, action, and horror films, that are slated for release this year.

Things are all set for Thien Ngan (Galaxy), Viet Nam Studio (BHD), and Early Riser Media Group to begin shooting an action-comedy movie about a switch between a rural man and the leader of a crime gang at the end of this month.

Long Ruoi (Fly Long), the eponymous title named for the gang boss, will be directed by Vietnamese-American Charlie Nguyen.

A poor cook from the countryside, Teo, looks so much like the Sai Gon gang boss that the latter's men force him to act as their leader who is in hospital after a fight with rivals.

Teo has to constantly ward off conspiracies to assassinate him.

Nguyen said he and his crew are working to create a "new style" for the film since many films have been made earlier in this genre.

The film features Thai Hoa, who plays Teo and Long Ruoi. Hoa came to prominence last year after playing a gay man in another Galaxy Studio film De Mai Tinh (It's Up to Mai).

Long Ruoi is expected to be released on National Day, September 2, a Galaxy spokesperson said.

Hoang Tran Film is making an action flick about gangsters, Lenh Xoa So (Death Sentence). It will have plenty of thrilling fight sequences featuring traditional Vietnamese martial arts, its director Do Quang Minh said.

It features overseas Vietnamese martial arts star Tran Minh Hoang, who won many European taekwondo and Thai boxing championships, who is also the producer and martial arts director.

A former member of a criminal gang, Hoang, turns a new leaf and quits his old ways but has to contend with the "death sentence" passed by the gang's leader.

Filming finished at the end of January and BHD will release it in April.

Galaxy Studio is making a supernatural thriller Rh108 which is being directed by Bui Thac Chuyen, who is also one of its scriptwriters along with Bui Kim Quy, winner of the top prize at the 2004 National Short Film Festival.

The film is about Chieu Duong, a 16-year-old girl who has the mental make-up of a six-year-old following a traumatic incident during her childhood.

However, the incident has given her strange powers – she has the ability to read people's minds and foretell terrible disasters.

Nguyen Thuy Duong, daughter of veteran actress Mai Phuong – famous for her role in the 1983 film Son Ca Trong Thanh Pho (Nightingale in the City) – will play the role of her namesake.

"Duong's face and body language match the character's, while she also passed the screen test," the director said.

Duong said though it was difficult to fit in the filming with her school schedule, Chieu Duong's role was worth the challenge.

She earlier acted in two TV series, May Rau Lam Vo (A Man-Wife) and Con Duong Phia Truoc (The Road Ahead).

Galaxy expects to release the film for Halloween in October. — VNS

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Live shows heat up this week

Singer My Tam

Live shows of famous singers will heat up this week, with pop star Dan Truong’s show scheduled on Jan 13, My Tam’s on Jan 14, and Thanh Lam - Tung Duong duo’s on Jan 15.

Anh Tuyet and ATB’s singers will perform 2 night opera show of Kieu (based on Truyen Kieu – a literary masterpiece of great poet Nguyen Du) on Jan 15 and 16.

The operas were composed by Ta Dac, a guitar teacher, former deputy director of Hanoi public music school and member of Hanoi’s first electronic band Nang Moi.

Dan Truong will conduct the “Thien Duong Vang” show to introduce his three latest albums: Thien Duong Vang (Empty heaven), Nguoi Mien Tay (Western Vietnamese people) and DVD Dan Truong in America.

Meanwhile, top singer My Tam’s show is meant to mark her 10-year music career and celebrate her birthday at the same time.

In this show, My Tam will perform 30 well-known songs, most of which are re-played in blues, jazz and unplugged, etc. She also takes this occasion to seek funds to build 100 houses for residents in the central region and 600 scholarships to poor students.

Singers Thanh Lam and Tung Duong surprise people when choosing this time instead of Valentine to stage the show “Yeu” (Love) with songs performed in classic rock and other remix versions.

Dan Truong’s live show “Thien Duong Vang” at 8pm, Jan 13, at Trong Dong stage, 12B Cach Mang Thang Tam street, district 1

My Tam’s live show at 6.30pm, Jan 14, at Queen Plaza, 3-5 Hong Ha street, ward 9, Phu Nhuan district

Thanh Lam and Tung Duong’s live show “Yeu” at 8pm,Jan 15, at Ho Chi Minh Theatre
Ta Dac’s Opera show of Kieu at 8pm, Jan 15&16, at ATB bar, 197 Nguyen Van Troi street, Phu Nhuan district

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Vietnam’s landscapes through Van Duong Thanh strokes

Artist Van Duong Thanh poses next to her artworks - Photo: Courtesy of the organizer

An exhibition named “Mot thoang huong que” (A glimpse of hometown) by leading Asian female artist Van Duong Thanh is on at the five-star Rex Hotel Saigon in HCMC’s District 1 to mark the launch of the hotel’s new lobby and the return of artist Van Duong Thanh after her exhibition at the HCMC Fine Arts Museum 20 years ago.

Gérard Boivineau, consul general of France in HCMC who is also a close friend of the artist, cut the ribbon and made the speech at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. The exhibition showcases 70 oil paintings which mostly feature landscapes in the South of Vietnam, from Saigon to the Mekong Delta in the past and at the present. All the artworks were painted in strong and bright colors which carry deep emotion and feelings of Thanh towards the images of nature, women, children and ancient architecture. 

“I painted all these artworks will all my heart and enthusiasm with a hope to bring the beauty and joy to everybody,” said Van Duong Thanh.

Van Duong Thanh was born in Phu Yen Province and studied the art of paintings for twelve years during difficult times of war. She was also a student of late well-known artist Bui Xuan Phai. She lives in both Vietnam and Sweden where she teaches paintings.

Thanh has also been known in the world for her 65 international exhibitions. Some of her 1,600 works have been displayed at museums in Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Sweden. Thanh has been conferred the title of “Nguoi vinh danh dat Viet” (person who brings glory to Vietnam) and “Dai su van hoa cua Vietnam” (Vietnam’s cultural ambassador).

The exhibition runs until June 30, 2011 at the lobby of the Rex Hotel Saigon.

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Vietnam’s landscapes through Van Duong Thanh strokes

Artist Van Duong Thanh poses next to her artworks - Photo: Courtesy of the organizer

An exhibition named “Mot thoang huong que” (A glimpse of hometown) by leading Asian female artist Van Duong Thanh is on at the five-star Rex Hotel Saigon in HCMC’s District 1 to mark the launch of the hotel’s new lobby and the return of artist Van Duong Thanh after her exhibition at the HCMC Fine Arts Museum 20 years ago.

Gérard Boivineau, consul general of France in HCMC who is also a close friend of the artist, cut the ribbon and made the speech at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. The exhibition showcases 70 oil paintings which mostly feature landscapes in the South of Vietnam, from Saigon to the Mekong Delta in the past and at the present. All the artworks were painted in strong and bright colors which carry deep emotion and feelings of Thanh towards the images of nature, women, children and ancient architecture. 

“I painted all these artworks will all my heart and enthusiasm with a hope to bring the beauty and joy to everybody,” said Van Duong Thanh.

Van Duong Thanh was born in Phu Yen Province and studied the art of paintings for twelve years during difficult times of war. She was also a student of late well-known artist Bui Xuan Phai. She lives in both Vietnam and Sweden where she teaches paintings.

Thanh has also been known in the world for her 65 international exhibitions. Some of her 1,600 works have been displayed at museums in Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Sweden. Thanh has been conferred the title of “Nguoi vinh danh dat Viet” (person who brings glory to Vietnam) and “Dai su van hoa cua Vietnam” (Vietnam’s cultural ambassador).

The exhibition runs until June 30, 2011 at the lobby of the Rex Hotel Saigon.

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Festival shows off Vietnam’s ceramics tradition

Minh Long 1 Co's ceramics showcase at its showroom in southern Binh Duong Province during the event

Photo: Minh Phat

Artisans from 19 craft villages and 50 businesses are taking part in the country’s first ceramics festival being held in the southern Binh Duong Province from September 2 to 9.

Vietnam Ceramics - Tradition, Identity and Development, held to mark National Day, September 2, will honor traditional handicrafts, especially ceramics, whose history dates back thousands of years. Vietnam is considered one of the cradles of world ceramic culture.

Businesses and individuals will have a chance to showcase their products at the festival which is also expected to boost tourism in the province by highlighting its cultural aspects.

Other handicrafts like lacquer works, wood sculpture, and glass drawing done in traditional craft villages in Binh Duong and other provinces will also be on show.

Visitors can watch artisans at work and take part in workshops where they can learn to make their own handicrafts.

There will be a seminar at which authorities, craftsmen, and others will assess the global status of Vietnamese ceramics and discuss measures to promote handicrafts at home and abroad.

An international ceramics exhibition will showcase the cultures of China, Japan, Korea, and other ASEAN members.

There will be impressive pieces nominated for Vietnamese records in categories like the biggest, most difficult shape to make, and the most beautiful pattern.

A food court will dish out popular dishes and specialties of Binh Duong and other southeastern provinces.

Music shows will be held every night, with a show titled Thang Long-Vietnamese Ceramics on September 4 expected to be the highlight with fireworks and other spectacles.

There will be an exhibition of ancient ceramic collections, a ceramics show, and a tour of Binh Duong’s ceramic craft villages.

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