Local films shine during Tet

Vietnamse flavour: A scene from Bong Ma Hoc Duong, one of the Vietnamese-made films shown in cinemas during the Tet holiday. — VNS Photo

HCM CITY — Despite stiff competition from entertainment centres, Vietnamese-made films attracted big crowds at cinemas in HCM City and Ha Noi during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

One of the blockbusters, Bong Ma Hoc Duong (Ghost at School), drew thousands of young moviegoers to Galaxy, Megastar and BHD Maximart cinemas.

Audiences queued up in front of the cinemas' ticket kiosks for the chance to watch the country's first 3-D film featuring an amusing story of an online author haunted by three ghosts.

The horror comedy attracted dozens of young pop stars and fashion models including Wanbi Tuan Anh, Truong Quynh Anh and Dinh Ngoc Diep.

Attracting more than 300,000 filmgoers, the US$1 million-film Bong Ma Hoc Duong grossed VND22 billion ($1.1 million) after 12 days of release in only HCM City and Ha Noi.

"We believe our film will set a record in ticket sales this Tet," said Phan To Hong Hai, a member of Thien Ngan Studios' managing board, the film's producer.

District 5's Megastar HungVuong cinema attracted 10,000 people a day, an increase of 20 per cent over the same period last year.

Thien Ngan's competitor, BHD Company, also believes in the financial success of its production, the comedy film Co Dau Dai Chien (War of the Brides).

The producer said the film's Vietnamese-American director Victor Vu had brought something new to fans.

Co Dau Dai Chien revolves around the love of a group of young people living in urban areas, portrayed by Huy Khanh, Phi Thanh Van and Van Trang.

It attracted 230,000 audiences in 10 days, earning VND14.2 billion in ticket sales. The numbers are expected to be higher in coming days.

The private film company Phuoc Sang's Thien Su... 99 (The Cherub... 99) features a love story, offering comedy and exciting action.

The film contains a large cast of well-known artists, including young singers Khong Tu Quynh and Ngo Kien Huy. Like its competitors, Phuoc Sang also spent a large sum on filming.

"Comedies will be big hits with youngsters looking for more lighthearted entertainment," said Phuoc Sang, the film's director.

The film is being screened at cinemas across the country, and has thus far earned a profit of VND9 billion.

In HCM City, thousands of families have also flocked to theatres as well as cinemas.

Cat Phuong of the HCM City Small Drama Theatre said that mostly big drama troupes and theatres, including Phu Nhuan and Hoang Thai Thanh, staged more comedic plays during Tet and Valentine's Day.

The theatre's two plays, Chua Yeu Sao Hieu Duoc (Can't Understand Without Love) and Cuc Yeu (Fall in Love), feature performances of young artists, including Hoang Anh and Diem Chau.

"We will continue to stage comedies in the upcoming weeks instead of showing serious productions as we had originally planned," said a representative of Hoang Thai Thanh Drama Stage.

All the tickets for the theatre's three plays have been sold out for two months.

Phuong also predicts that comedies will continue to draw audiences to the theatre until International Women's Day on March 8. — VNS

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Culture Vulture

Acclaimed Australian filmmaker Phillip Noyce, 60, is in Viet Nam to chair the jury board of the first Viet Nam International Film Festival. He sat down with Culture Vulture on the sidelines of the event.

You came to Viet Nam to film The Quiet American. Now you return as chairman of the jury board of the first Viet Nam International Film Festival. How does that feel?

A decade has passed by since I came to Viet Nam to make The Quiet American. For me, it's a wonderful experience and honour to be here once again. Meeting old friends like director Dang Nhat Minh and actress Do Hai Yen who enthusiastically helped me to produce the film is a privilege, a big present.

During my days in Ha Noi, I will have a chance to get acquainted with other directors and filmmakers to share ideas, exchange experiences and confirm our common passion for the Seventh Art which has the power of a bridge and helps overcome barriers of language and culture. It connects people through the charm of the silver screen.

Viet Nam has two films in the Best Feature Film category, and many new entries which are arranged in Viet Nam Premier Showcase and Viet Nam Cinema Today. Have you been patient enough to watch all of the Vietnamese films screening at the festival?

The jury's screening schedule for official competition is full now, but I promise that I will try to watch Vietnamese films until I collapse.

I'm looking forward to enjoying new Vietnamese films made in 2010, films competing in international film festivals, and current impressive films on at Vietnamese cinemas. Seeing these films will help me realise the changes and development in the Vietnamese movie industry.

I have tried kept a close eye on your cinema over the last decade. I would like to help develop your cinema but have few chances to see it. The only Vietnamese film I've seen is Pao's Story. The other film being promoted in Australia that I saw was Inferno, directed by Vietnamese-born Victor Vu.

I live and work in Australia and the US, where I have only a few opportunities to see Vietnamese films. That's the reason I'm present at this festival. There was a big gap between the movie and audiences when I directed The Quiet American. Now, there are now more and more young directors, and larger audiences, who buy the tickets.

As chairman of the jury board, what can you tell us about the criteria for selecting the best films?

Films geared towards social issues and people will be promising candidates for the top prize. The jury board also highly appreciates films with new, interesting, creative and amazing angles. The members of the jury met each other for the first time at the festival, but it's expected that we will have the same feeling and idea to grant prizes for worthy entries.

I want to tell a story about when I joined the jury at the Sydney International Film Festival in 1994. I remember that among thousands of films presented, there were hundreds nominated, and due to the large amount of films, I paid attention to films made by famous directors. However, I was surprised by Dang Nhat Minh, a Vietnamese director who wasn't famous at the time. His film Tro Ve (The Return) impressed me.

Film festivals are opportunities to discover new talents. I hope that I will find other directors like Minh at this festival.

Southeast Asian cinema is being showcased at this festival. What do you think about the focus on regional films?

It is very interesting to see films and gain a deeper knowledge of movie industries in Southeast Asia. I want to learn about the region's culture, which is expressed by the region's filmmakers, through the film festival.

The movie industries of different nations have different visions of the world. We may ask how the films are made, what the filmmakers' interests are. I think there will be films which reveal their own culture and country's historical stories, although sometimes it isn't easy to understand their messages. But the film's values come from the inside – how do you feel after watching it?

When the festival ends, do you have any other plans in Viet Nam?

I will stay in Ha Noi for two days after the festival to join lectures and seminars with young filmmakers. Then I have another two days working in HCM City. At the seminars, I will share my experience in making films such as Salt and The Quiet American. I'm ready for questions relating to these films. Through the meetings, I expect that I will do something to help Vietnamese filmmakers connect with foreign film industries. I also want to exchange and talk with the younger generation who have a passion for films and willingness to devote themselves to the film industry. Young filmmakers are a very important force for the future of the nation's cinema. — VNS

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Australian director ‘keeps eye’ on Vietnam cinema

Local fans welcome Australian director Phillip Noyce when arrives at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi on October 16, 2010

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Phillip Noyce, director of “The Quiet American” is in Vietnam for a second time, eight years after he was first here to direct the film, to head the jury at the inaugural Vietnam International Film Festival from October 17 to 21.

He spoke to Tuoi Tre as soon as he landed at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi.

As the head of the feature film jury, what is your main goal?

I would like to honor true values and new cinema talents, and have a chance to watch films at the VNIFF.

What do you think about the first VNIFF’s aim of showcasing Southeast Asian cinema which is not well known globally?

It is very interesting to see films and have a deeper knowledge of movie industries in Southeast Asian countries. I do want to learn about the region’s culture, which is expressed by the region’s filmmakers, through the film festival.

Movie industry of different nations have different visions of the world. We may ask that how the films are made, what the filmmakers’ interest is. I think there will be films which reveal their own culture and country’s historical stories though sometimes it not easy to understand their messages. However, the film’s values come from the inside – how do you feel after watching it?

What is your expectation for Vietnamese films?

I am waiting to see Vietnamese films made in 2010, films competing in international film festivals, and current impressive films on Vietnamese cinemas.

Seeing these films will help me realize the changes and development in Vietnamese movie industry. I always keep a close eye on your cinema for the last eight years. I would like to help develop your cinema but I have few chances to see it. The only Vietnamese film I’ve seen is “Pao’s story.” The other film being promoted in Australia that I saw was “Inferno” directed by Vietnamese-born Victor Vu. I live and work in Australia and the US, where I have only a few opportunities to see Vietnamese films. That is the reason I am present at the festival. Besides seeing and judging films at the festival, I’ll give two lectures at the Vietnam Cinema Association on October 22 and 23 before coming to Ho Chi Minh City. I hope I can connect Vietnamese filmmakers with foreign ones.

There was a big gap between the movie and the audiences when I directed “The Quiet American.” However, there are now more and more young directors, and even audiences, who buy tickets.

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Vietnamese films screen at Busan Film Festival

HA NOI — Two Vietnamese films are screening at the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea this week.

Canh Dong Bat Tan (The Endless Field) by director Nguyen Phan Quang Binh will compete with 12 entries from eight countries and territories in the festival's New Currents category, while Bi, Dung So (Bi, Don't Be Afraid) by director Phan Dang Di will join the Asian Cinema Window programme.

The top two winners in the New Currents category will receive cash prizes of US$30,000 each.

Over 300 films from 67 countries and territories are being screened at the festival, of which over 100 are premieres, including Viet Nam's Canh Dong Bat Tan.

The screenplay of Bi, Dung So won a $10,000 award at the 2007 Busan Film Festival.

Malaysian businesses learn about Vietnamese culture

HCM CITY — Representatives from more than 100 Malaysian businesses celebrated the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Ha Noi at a meeting held yesterday by the Malaysian Business Chamber (MBC).

The group enjoyed traditional Vietnamese cuisine, including spring rolls, chicken and corn soup and purple sticky rice in bean curd.

The chairwoman of MBC, Shimi Sumathi, who has worked in Viet Nam for 18 years, spoke highly of the country's cuisine as well as its history and people.

She said Malaysian businesses operating or wishing to invest in Viet Nam should learn more about the culture.

Old soldiers depict memories of war in HCM City exhibition

HCM CITY — An exhibition of art and posters painted by a group of 33 veteran soldiers opened on Thursday at HCM City Fine Arts Association.

About 59 recently made paintings using oil paints, water colours and lacquer on canvas, paper and other materials depict the veterans' memories of the war and their impressions of development in the city today.

The exhibition also has several brass sculptures of popular figures of Viet Nam's military like General Vo Nguyen Giap and Major General Tran Dai Nghia.

According to the association, the war veteran artist club has about 100 members, who were witnesses to the country's war for liberation and reunification. Members of the group also keep a lot of other war memorabilia.

The exhibition is at HCM City Fine Arts Association, 218A Pasteur District 3, HCM City.

Beer lovers drink up at HCM City's Oktoberfest

HCM CITY — The Windsor Plaza Hotel in HCM City's District 5 and the German Business Association are celebrating Oktoberfest with a seven-day party that opened at the hotel yesterday.

Also the 200th anniversary of the original beer fest, the bash is being held at the hotel's ballroom with Krombacher draught beer, Schneider Weisse beer, schnapps and typical German food like sausage, sauerkraut, pork knuckle and pretzel.

A German band, Trenkwalder, returns for the third year to play traditional songs.

Guests receive a beer mug as a souvenir and take part in traditional German games and lucky draws.

Admission to the seven-day event – until tomorrow and again from Wednesday to Saturday next week – is only for people aged 18 and over. — VNS

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Vietnamese films entered at Korean festival

A scene from "Floating Life"

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Vietnamese movies “Floating life” (Canh Dong Bat Tan) and “Bi, Don’t be afraid!” (Bi, dung so!) will be screened at the 15th Pusan International Film Festival in Korea next month.

Listed among 12 movies from 10 countries competing for the US$30,000 New Currents Award is “Floating life,” adapted from a short story by ASEAN Literature Award winner Nguyen Ngoc Tu and directed by Nguyen Phan Quang Binh, a winner of the 2006 Pusan Promotion Plan award.

It depicts the tragic life of farmers in southern Vietnam trying to earn a livelihood. The movie opens in Vietnamese cinemas October 22.

“Bi, don’t be afraid,” directed by Phan Dang Di, will compete in “A window for Asian cinema” category. It is about the life of a family living in Hanoi’s Old Quarter through the eye of a six-year-old boy, Bi.

The movie won the best screenplay prize and a critics’ award at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

This year’s Pusan festival has attracted 308 entries from 67 countries, with more than half of them premiering at the event.

The jury will have leading lights from around the world like Sean Farnet (Canada), Murali Nair (India), Remi Bonhomme (France), and John Cooper (America).

French actress Juliette Binoche, English actress Jane March, Japanese actresses Yoshitaka Yuriko and Miyazaki Aoi, and American director Oliver Stone will attend the festival to be held from October 7 to 15.

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