Photo exhibition on Fidel Castro opens in central province

A photo exhibition documenting former Cuban President Fidel Castro’s visit to the central province of Quang Tri in 1973 opened on October 7.

The event, which is co-organized by Quang Tri Provincial Literature and Arts Association and Phap luat va Xa hoi (Law and Society) newspaper, aims to commemorate the 85th birthday of the revolutionary veteran.

On display are 50 photos, which have been chosen from 250 pieces of work by photographer Sy So.

Sy So was one of the few reporters assigned to receive the Cuban delegation at Hien Luong bridge in 1973. He recorded lively images of the former Cuban leader and late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong in newly liberated Quang Tri province.

The exhibition will run until October 11.

HCMC Theater stages verse drama

IDECAF Theater in Ho Chi Minh City has debuted its first drama whose script is written as verse.

Title “Quyen Luc Tinh Yeu” (The Power of Love), the drama unveiled secret stories of a dynasty through a character named Kieu Minh.Kieu Minh is a beautiful girl at a small village who is in love with General Giang Binh but forced to be the King’s concubine.

The drama, which was directed by renowned actor Huu Chau, gathered local top actors such as Thanh Loc, My Duyen, and Hong Anh.

“The drama marks IDECAF’s efforts to explore new types of art,” said Le Duy Hanh, Chairman of the HCMC Theater Association.

In 2005, Tuoi Tre Theater in Hanoi also staged a verse drama titled “Kieu Loan” which also received positive responses.

Popular author’s latest work sells out again

Nguyen Nhat Anh, a best-selling writer of children’s literature, saw his latest work “La Nam Trong La” sold out again, even before it was released on Thursday.

10,000 paperback copies of the book, whose title literally means Leaves inside Leaves that had been reserved beforehand were sold out, Tre Publishing House said at Anh’s signing ceremony to unveil the book at Muc Tim Newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City.

Another 10,000 paperback copies and 3,000 hardback copies were ready for the big release, the publisher said.

The 250-page book tells stories about school children that are inspired by real life stories of Anh’s writer friends.

Anh will continue a book signing for fans in Hanoi from 9am-10am on October 9 at Savina Bookstore at 44 Trang Tien.

On October 16, he will meet with students at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy.

Born in 1955, Anh published his first work “Truoc Vong Chung Ket” (Before the Final) in 1985 and has since become popular among teenagers.

30,000 copies of his previous book “Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh” (I Saw a Yellow Flower on the Green Grass) were sold out in just 2 months.

Famous documentaries to be screened in HCMC cafe  

Four documentaries will be the highlight of the first season of free film broadcasts at the Art House Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City's Snap Café.

The film screenings will take place every Wednesday from September 28 to December 28.  

The four documentary films are: Waste Land (2010) by director Lucy Walker; Grizzly Man (2005) by Herner Herzog; Man On Wire (2008) by James Marsh; and Religulous (2008) by Larry Charles.

The 99-minute Waste Land was filmed over nearly three years, following renowned artist Vik Muniz in the world’s largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.  

There he photographs an eclectic band of “catadores”—self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. His collaboration with these inspiring characters as they recreate photographic images of themselves out of garbage reveals both the dignity and despair as they begin to re-imagine their lives.  

Director Lucy Walker offers stirring evidence of the transformative power of art and the alchemy of the human spirit.

Following the premier of Waste Land on Sep 28, Grizzly Man features a close up heartrending of a man living with grizzly bears on Oct 26.

Man on wire, to be screened on Nov 30, tells of an artistic crime of the century – a high wire routine between the twin towers.

Religulous, featuring famous journalist Bill Maher looking at the current state of world religion, will end Season 1 on Dec 28.

The films are not suitable for children. Free entrance.

Snap Café is located on 32 Tran Ngoc Dien, Thao Dien, District 2.

TA