VietNamNet Bridge – Movie star and producer Ngo Thanh Van’s latest film on cai luong (reformed opera), a genre of traditional theatre in the South, will be in cinemas in August.  

Ready for my close-up: Pop singer and actor Issac in a scene in Song Lang, a drama about cai luong produced by movie star, film director and producer Ngo Thanh Van. The film will be in cinemas in August. — Photo courtesy of VAA

The film Song Lang features a group of cai luong artists in Sai Gon in the 1980s, focusing on the challenges they face to preserve their art. 

It also centres on the career of a young performer, Linh Phung, who makes sacrifices to pursue his dream.  

The 100-year history and development of cai luong is also featured.

Producer Van invited pop singer and actor Issac, winner of the Rising Star of Asia’s Star Awards at the 21st Busan International Festival in 2016, and young actors Tu Quyen and Lien Binh Phat, to play the film’s leading roles.

The film’s young director Leon Le invited cai luong stars to offer training for his staff.  

“Song Lang is my first film project. I researched many documents and books on cai luong before filming,” said the film’s director Leon.

“I hope my film will entertain and educate audiences, particularly young people, who should have knowledge and love for Vietnamese theatre,” he said. 

Issac, who plays Linh Phung, spent hours a day to practise singing and dancing cai luong with experts. 

“Singing cai luong is a big challenge to me. I’m under pressure during shooting. My role in Song Lang marks a new process in my film career,” said the 30-year-old.

“I wanted to capture the beauty of Vietnamese culture and lifestyle in films,” said producer Van, who has more than 20 years in the industry.

Her new project, Than Dong Dat Viet (Vietnamese Prodigies), based on Vietnamese folk stories, will begin filming late this year.

The film’s screenplay is based on a comic series of the same name by young artists of Phan Thi Company. 

Van is also working on other three projects, called Thach Sanh (The Story of Thach Sanh), Thanh Giong (Saint Giong) and Son Tinh-Thuy Tinh (God of the Mountain-God of the Water).

The three films are based on Vietnamese myths.

Thach Sanh tells the story of an orphan who grows up to be a brave woodcutter and defeats monsters to save a princess.

Thanh Giong portrays a young hero named Giong who grows up to be a giant and rides on an iron horse leading villagers to fight against northern invaders.

Son Tinh-Thuy Tinh explains the origin of storms and floods. It highlights the will and intelligence of the Vietnamese who thousands of years ago battled natural disasters.

Last year, Van’s Co Ba Sai Gon (The Tailor), a romantic comedy on Vietnamese women in Sai Gon (now HCM City) in the 1960s, was screened and honoured at the 22nd Busan International Film Festival in Busan, Korea.

The film’s leading character, young actress Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc of HCM City, was named Face of Asia at the Asia Star Awards 2017.

Post-production of Song Lang will be completed in mid-July. The film will be in cinemas on August 17.

VNS