Female film producer Mai Thu Huyen has launched her new film project based on a famous Vietnamese epic poem written in the 18th century recognised as one of the country's top literary works. Television series to tell the Tale of Kieu The Tale of Kieu sets new records The poster for Kieu, a new film from producer Mai Thu Huyen, based on the famous Vietnamese epic poem The Tale of Kieu, from the 18th century. — Photo courtesy of producer The film Kiều is based on Truyện Kiều (The Tale of Kiều) by Nguyen Du (1766-1820). It recounts the life and trials of Thuy Kieu, a talented young woman who is forced to sacrifice herself to save her family. Kieu sells herself into a loveless marriage in exchange for her father and younger brother’s freedom from prison. Later Kieu’s husband forces her into prostitution. According to the film’s producer Huyen, Kieu will not be pitied as the character in the poem is. She overcomes challenges and … [Read more...] about New film based on famous epic poem has contemporary twist
Cling film big
‘Valley of Souls’ triumphs at Marrakesh film festival
British actress Tilda Swinton presents the Etoile d'Or to Colombian director Nicolas Rincon Gille. — AFP/VNA Photo MARRAKESH — Colombian director Nicolas Rincon Gille's Valley of Souls, the story of a father's solitary search for the bodies of his murdered sons, won top prize on Saturday at the Marrakesh film festival. It follows the journey of Jose, who comes home from a night of fishing to discover that paramilitaries have killed his two sons and dumped their bodies in the river. So he sets off in a canoe to try to find their bodies and give them a proper burial. Marrakesh's 18th annual festival was attended by top cinema stars such as Harvey Keitel, Marion Cotillard, Tilda Swinton and Robert Redford, who received a lifetime achievement award. Toby Wallace won Best Actor for his role in the Australian comedy Babyteeth, directed by Shannon Murphy. Nichola Burley and Roxanne Scrimshaw shared the Best Actress prize for British comedy Lynn + Lucy, directed by Fyzal … [Read more...] about ‘Valley of Souls’ triumphs at Marrakesh film festival
Short movie wins Singapore film fest award
Directed by Duong Dieu Linh, "Sweet, Salty" was screened in the Southeast Asian Short Film Competition at the festival with 17 other movies. It was awarded the Youth Jury Prize award at a ceremony on November 30 in Singapore. "Sweet, Salty" features a 40-year-old pregnant woman who decides to confront her husband’s secret lover, but the showdown leads to a sticky situation that leaves her with a bittersweet realization. The short movie, which carries a message about gender discrimination in Vietnam, premiered at this year's Busan International Film Festival in South Korea. A still cut from "Sweet, Salty". Photo by the Busan International Film Festival. The 30-year-old Singapore film festival is one of Southeast Asia's most prestigious. Ninety films from 40 countries were screened in this year’s festival, held November 21 to December 1. This year, four other Vietnamese short films were shown, besides "Sweet, Salty:" "Hay Thuc Tinh Va San Sang" (Stay Awake, Be Ready) by … [Read more...] about Short movie wins Singapore film fest award
Hanoi wants big bucks to reduce noise at major bridge
The department said in a proposal to the city's administration that the distance between the bridge’s ends and the residential houses are very close. The shortest distance is about one meter. Suspended over the Red River, the Chuong Duong Bridge handles about 100,000 vehicles every day which generates noise and seriously affects the lives of Hanoians at both ends, it said. The department has monitored noise at 19 points at the two ends of the bridge and results exceeded the national standard’s maximum limit. Vietnam sets noise limits in residential areas at 70dBA from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and 55dBA from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. "The installation of noise reduction panels at the ends of Chuong Duong bridge is very urgent," the department said in its proposal, as reported by Giao Thong newspaper on Monday. It said the capital needed for the noise attenuation project would come from Hanoi’s Road Maintenance Fund. The panels are estimated to be installed between this year and 2020, … [Read more...] about Hanoi wants big bucks to reduce noise at major bridge
SEA Games: Vietnamese women dream big after football gold
"I am touched and the emotions are surging as this is the sixth time the Vietnamese women’s football team have won the SEA Games gold medal. This is the team’s victory," coach Mai Duc Chung told reporters after Vietnamese women won a hard fought final match against Thailand Sunday night. "We still have to learn and improve a lot. Our immediate goal is to help the team win a ticket to the World Cup," Chung said. "After the semifinal, we had only two days to prepare for today’s final. We gave the players tonics, massages and adjusted their diet to improve their health and fitness. But the important factor was their strong spirit," he added. Although Vietnam repeatedly threatened Thailand's penalty area, they could not score a goal in the 90 minutes of play. Their focused defense, thanks largely to keeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh putting on an amazing display, kept Thailand at bay. In the second minute of extra time, Pham Hai Yen made fans across the nation scream in … [Read more...] about SEA Games: Vietnamese women dream big after football gold