Four new films at Idécaf in HCMC

The Institute for Cultural Exchange with France (Idécaf) will screen four French movies in November. Tickets are VND15,000. Idecaf is at 31 Thai Van Lung Street, HCMC’s District 1.

The girl on the train starring Emilie Dequence, Catherine Deneuve, Michel Blanc and directed by André Téchiné will be shown at 3.p.m on November 6. The girl on the train is based on the true story of a young girl who stunned France when she falsely claimed to be the target of an Anti-Semitic attack.

Just anybody is a story of Camille, a 20-something dissatisfied with her life, who craves the opportunity to give her love to the person who needs it the most. She finds this opportunity in the form of Costa, a homeless ne’er do well, deadbeat dad, and rejected son. Even as their relationship begins to take its toll on them both, Camille finds happiness in her efforts to rescue him from his own self-destruction. The film will be screened at 3 p.m. on November 20.

Jean de la Fontaine- Le défi follows the confrontation between Jean de La Fontaine, writer of the world renowned Fables, and Colbert, financial administrator for Louis XIV’s Kingdom of France. In 1661, Colbert gets his rival Fouquet arrested, a powerful advisor of the young king. While all the other artists support the decision and rush to the Court, poet de La Fontaine confirms his support for Fouquet. Colbert vows to make the rebel admit the truth, but La Fontaine, even when penniless, stands by his convictions. Without money, he resists, observes and writes the Fables, which protest against a despotic government in the height of its decline. The movie was directed by Daniel Vigne and starring by Lorànt Deutsch, Philippe Torreton, Sara Forestier. Jean de la Fontaine- Le défi will be screened at 3 p.m. on November 27.

Her third by Egon Günther will show at 7.30 p.m. on November 9. Her Third is a humorous and touching story of an independent woman’s willingness to break with social conventions in order to find happiness. Twice-married and romantically involved with a woman, she decides to seduce a male colleague in order to find a father for her children.

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60 Years of German Cinema in Hanoi

The Goethe Institute in Hanoi will organize a German Film Week in Hanoi from from now until November 7 to celebrate 60 years of German Cinema (1999-2009).

The Film Week will focus on the new millennium, the reunification of East and West Germany with all its problems, the new German filmmaking era, “Berliner Schule”, with its realism, and internationally successful German films.

Every two months, the Goethe Institute in Hanoi will feature a decade in cinema history, presenting films that define their times, films which were talked about, which shocked and impressed and which led the way for German cinema in both East and West Germany.

Seven films will screen during the week, including Policewoman, 2000, directed by Andreas Dresen on November 01, 7:30 p.m., Goodbye Lenin!, 2003, directed by Wolfgang Becker on November 02, 7:30 p.m., Head-On, 2004, directed by Fatih Akin on November 03, 7:30 p.m., Go for Zucker!, 2005, directed by Dani Levy on  November 4, 7:30 p.m., Longing, 2006, directed by Valeska Grisebach on November 5, 7:30 p.m., The Lives of Others, 2006, directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck on November 6, 7:30 p.m., Jerichow, 2008, directed by Christian Petzold on November 7, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are free and available at the Hanoi Goethe Institute, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street in Hanoi from October 26. For more information, call 04 37342251/52/53 (ext. 9).

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Youth get hooked on world of social networks

by Le Huong

Imaginations run wild: Using facebook is an effective way to communicate and catch up with people around the world providing that users don't lose touch with reality. — VNA/VNS Photo Truong Vi

Senior student Nguyen Tuong Linh opens his facebook account at least five times a day, no matter how busy he is. He chats, sees friends' photos, clicks on other web pages linked to the site and makes some comments. All his daily facebook routines consumes at least two hours per day.

He is among 1 million facebook users in Viet Nam [up to July, 2010, according to ZeninthOptimedia], many of whom have become dependent on social networks, which widely concerns psychologists.

"I feel uncomfortable if I do not enter the site once every three hours," he admitted, "The demand for connecting with friends urges me to check the account as often as I can."

Luu Diep Tu, another office junior clerk, said she and her friends went out less often since the group joined a common social network.

"All of our exchanges have mainly been done through the network," she said, "It's less expensive and quicker I think. Surfing through my friends' statuses, I know their most updated information, what they think and whether they need help and comfort."

It's impossible to deny the role of "imaginary friends", who help share real life sorrows and happinesses of the youth in Viet Nam nowadays, like facebook, Yume, Hi5, Cyworld, Zing Me and Yobanbe.

People are choosing social networks due to their effectiveness, which is narrowing the sharing space in real life, according to psychology consultant An Viet Chat from the An Viet Son Psychology Consultancy in Ha Noi.

He also admitted that social networks helped ease the pressure of modern life and the demand to build an the image of oneself.

"The accompanying tools of social networks, like finding old friends easily and establishing new relationships, are something like sweet honey to lure people to this kind of addiction," he said.

Lecturer Tran Thi Ngoc Nho, who teaches Urban Studies at HCM City's Social Sciences and Humanities University, said social networks had big influences on the youth's public communication space.

"The communications of the youth are changing from individual communications to public communications," she said, "That's why social networks are reducing real communications among people, making them gradually stay away from the real space."

Nguyen Dinh Toan, a graduate of the university, analysed that social network addiction was a systematic habit of abusing and using the networks, which led to the dependence on the network.

"It's easy to find out that the time for social network users click on the pages most is in working time," said Vo Thanh Tung, who is in charge of IT management at a joint-stock company in Ha Noi.

"This distracts them from their office work. We have to block social networks from our company's server so that staff can't use social network at works."

Toan, however, insists that such a method had no effect on social network addiction.

"The staff may not use an office computer for that purpose, but they can use their mobile phones instead," Toan said.

Nguyen Thi Le Uyen, from HCM City's Institute for Development Research, said the key factor of the society was the belief in a surrounding community.

"The young person should have enough energy, skill and spirit to overcome the drawbacks of an imaginary social network to win the belief of his/her community in real life," she said. "That's a wise way to use social networks."

Some other IT experts advised social network users to control their time surfing the net. Their tips included using a stopwatch to set the time, using the telephone more often, going outside more frequently, limiting memberships in the networks and removing cellphone applications.

"Using social networks is a wise and effective way to communicate and catch up with the rest of the world providing that network users don't forget the realities," said Tung. — VNS

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Cross-cultural show presents French fashion

HA NOI — Hanoians will witness the beauty of French fashion when four Parisian brands present their creations in the capital tonight.

As a cultural exchange between the Ile-de-France region and Ha Noi, the fashion show will allow Hanoians a glimpse of this integral part of French culture and provide the French designers a view into Vietnamese fashion.

The French brands set to introduce their creations are Ambrym, Christophe Josse, Dormeuil, and the children's label, Charabia.

"I have a special interest in ethnic handmade fabric so I have visited some traditional villages in the North to learn about the materials that can be used for my artistic limited edition creations," said 25-year-old designer Gabrielle Gerard from Ambrym.

Five Vietnamese designers, Kelly Bui, Do Manh Cuong, Hoang Hai, Le Ha and Sy Hoang, will join the French designers to showcase their latest collections.

Veteran designer Sy Hoang will present his ao dai (Vietnamese traditional robe) collections. He will show his collections for both women and children, who he says are the "generation preserving our traditions."

Environmentally friendly materials are the highlight of Kelly Bui's collection, while crystal, feather and lace adorn Hoang Hai's stunning gowns. Young designer Do Manh Cuong will present his feminine and sophisticated creations. And finally, Le Ha will showcase her designs emphasising the activeness of modern women.

There will also be a performance combining contemporary dance and shadow puppetry during the fashion show.

The event, directed by French choreographer Fanny de Chaille and musical director Christophe Chassol, will start at 6pm at the Ha Noi Opera House. — VNS

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Photographer focuses on traditional puppetry

Walking on water: Mua Tien (Fairies' Dance), one of 50 works by photographer Nguyen Hong Nga, is on display at the Traditional Water Puppetry exhibition at HCM City's Institute for Culture Exchange with France.

HCM CITY — Nguyen Hong Nga will hold a three-day exhibition of her photographer featuring traditional water puppetry in HCM City starting today.

Mua Roi Nuoc Truyen Thong (Traditional Water Puppetry), to be held at the Institute for Culture Exchange with France (IDECAF), will have on display 50 photos Nga had taken over the years.

They feature the most popular works like Mua Rong (Dragon Dance), Mua Phuong (Phoenix Dance), Mua Tien (Fairies' Dance) and Truyen Thuyet Le Loi Tra Guom (Legend on Returned Sword Lake).

Water puppetry, in which wooden puppets are manipulated over water, originated in the Hong (Red) River region in the 11th century when it was performed at festivals to pray for a good crop.

It is usually in the form of a skit depicting daily life in rural Viet Nam, folk tales, legends, or history.

The art form is a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition.

Nga, who was born in 1956 in Quang Tri Province, is a member of International Federation of Photographic Art and a member of the Viet Nam Journalists Association, Viet Nam Photographers Association, and Viet Nam Theatre Artists' Association.

She won a B prize of the Viet Nam Photographers Association's Best Photo for her Buc Tranh Que Ngoai (Picture of Mother's Hometown) in 1995 and the 2009 PSA Portrait Competition Awards in the US for Thieu Nu Mong (A Mong Girl).

Nga has held exhibitions in Hong Kong, the US, Canada, and France and published photo books like Suc Song Viet Nam (Viet Nam's Vitality) 1 and 2.

The exhibition venue is at 31 Thai Van Lung, District 1. — VNS

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Miss Earth tickets on sale

Green and beautiful: (From left) Miss Earth 2008 Karla Paula Henry, Miss Earth 2009 Larissa Ramos, Miss Earth Philippines Kris Psyche O Resus, and Miss World Viet Nam 2010 Luu Thi Diem Huong pose for a photo at an event promoting the next Miss Earth pageant in Nha Trang. — VNS File

HA NOI — More than 5,000 tickets are still available for the final round of the Miss Earth contest in Nha Trang coastal resort on December 4.

The environmentally based competition will be broadcast live on VTV1, VTV4, ABS, CBN and Channel Philippines.

It will draw together 90 beauties from around the world. Miss Viet Nam World 2010, Luu Thi Diem Huong, will represent Viet Nam.

"I have equipped myself with knowledge on current environmental problems and solutions," Huong said, "I have also practised my English."

Huong has chosen designer Nguyen Quynh Nhu for her competition costumes, which will focus on the message of protecting the environment.

At a talent show being held as part of the event, she will perform a three-minute dance combining the folk dances of north, central and south Viet Nam.

Huong has accompanied Miss Earth 2009, Larissa Ramos, Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry, and Miss Earth Philippines 2010, Psyche Resus, to the southern province of Phu Yen for the Miss Earth bikini competition next month.

Entrants must be single women aged between 18 and 26 without children and with a minimum height of 1.65m.

Tickets for the final night are available in Nha Trang, Ha Noi and HCM City. The tickets can also be purchased at www.missearth.vn.

Tickets range in price from VND700,000 to 4 million (US$35-200). Some tickets are available for VND450,000 ($22.5) for visitors to the Vinpearl Land Recreational Park. — VNS

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New TV show dramatises great escape

HCM CITY — A television series on the life of Vietnamese revolutionaries in Con Dao Prison will be filmed this month by the Viet Nam Film Studio (VFS) and HCM City Television (HTV).

The 30-part series, Cuoc Vuot Nguc Than Kyø (Perfect Gaolbreak), is based on a screenplay by Dinh Thien Phuc. It cost VND10.8 million (US$500,000).

The series' film production manager is Vuong Duc, the director, Vu Xuan Hung, and the cameraman, Vu Quoc Tuan.

The story is about the life of Vietnamese revolutionaries sent to Con Dao Prison during 1948 and 1950 while the war of resistance against the French colonialists was at its height.

It recounts a gaolbreak of a group of prisoners led by Hoang Bach, a revolutionary who was sentenced to 20 years.

Located on Con Dao Island, Con Dao Prison is known as the "Hell on Earth" where more than 200,000 prisoners, including leading Vietnamese revolutionaries, were jailed and nearly 20,000 died in atrocious conditions under the French and US-backed Sai Gon regimes.

Today, many cells and areas of the prison are preserved in memory of the country's national heroes.

"Through the film, we wanted to spotlight Vietnamese revolutionaries' remarkable spirit and work in achieving the country's freedom," Hung said.

After casting the roles, Hung and his crew will begin filming in Con Dao Prison later next month and then in HCM City.

To complete the film, Hung and his staff have conducted research on the prisoners.

"We wanted to help young audiences understand the spirit and revolutionary cause of Con Dao prisoners in Vietnamese history," he said. Post-production work on the film will be completed in February. — VNS

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