VN film season promises to enthral

VN film season promises to enthral

Love triangles, ghosts, hair-raising action scenes, betrayal and -loss are just some of the themes of Vietnam's first summer movie season. Vietnamese movie-makers are rolling out their best work - with many films expected to become blockbusters.

At the forefront of Vietnamese film-making, Giai Phong Film Studio has brought out Gia Mua Mot Thuong De (The Cost of a God) and Vu Dieu Tu Than (The Deadly Dance) - both partly sponsored by the Government.

The films tackle social issues, such as drugs and vice. The Cost of a God is a humorous story of a woman's struggle to protect the Ben Tre Coconut Candy brand name from being stolen.

The film stars many celebrated Vietnamese actors such as Viet Trinh and Minh Tiep, and was first screened last weekend.

Deadly Dance is a tale of dancing-girls and drugs and will be screened at the end of next month.

Private studios are also bringing out a number of major film this summer. Chanh Phuong Film Studio has just finished making the two-episode 45-minute horror movies Ngoi Nha Bi An (The Mysterious House) and Suoi Oan Hon (Haunted River) - both sure to make your hair stand on end.

The studio's productions are influenced by British film director Alfred Hitchcock, a pioneering figure in the thriller genre. The two films will be screened towards the end of next month.

Last but not least, Muoi (Ten), the first joint-production by Vietnam's Phuoc Sang Film studio and Billy Pictures from South Korea. The film depicts the life of a South Korean female writer who comes to Vietnam.

While in Vietnam she hears of a poltergeist- a broken-hearted woman - who haunts the home of her former boyfriend. She nightly rips up newspapers, moves pictures and drips blood.

With investment climbing, to around US$3mil, the filmmakers, promise the horror flick will keep audiences glued to their seats. Muoi will hit screens at the end of the summer movie season on July 7.

Dong Mau Anh Hung (The Rebel), which was released last April, is set in the early 20th Century during the Vietnamese struggle against invading French forces.

The film, acclaimed for its magnificent action scenes, was an instant hit with Vietnamese audiences - in the first two weeks of screening, the film was watched by more than 50,000 moviegoers.

Sai Gon Eclipse is also set in the past. Adapted from the Vietnamese literary: masterpiece Nguyen Du's Kieu Tale, the film was directed by Othello Khanh, who lives in France, and stars Truong Ngoc Anh and Nhu Quynh. The movie opened in theatres last Tuesday.