VietNamNet Bridge – When blockbuster film Người Bất Tử (The Immortal), directed by Victor Vu, set to open on October 26, viewers will take in a dark story that spans three centuries – as well as some of the country’s most beautiful scenery.  

The poster of the film reveals the beauty of Tu Lan Cave. — Photo courtesy of CJ

Vu believes that one of the reasons the film will be successful is its use of stunning scenery.

The film tells the story of Hung, who holds the secret of the eternal life.

Hung’s tumultuous life reveals a story filled with ambition, vengeance and dark magic.

To portray the life spanning three centuries, Vu and the film crew had to find different places to fit the story.

Audience will not only enjoy a romantic and thrilling film, they also join a tour throughout the country, with beautiful scenes in Hanoi, Ha Nam, Hung Yen, Quang Binh, HCM City, Tien Giang, and Dong Nai.

The scenes vary in terrain, from the delta, grasslands, valleys and hills to forests, caves, sea and the highest mountain peaks.

The central province of Quang Binh was once home to the set of Kong: Skull Island. This is the first film, however, in which the film crew passed the impenetrable blackness that cloaks the beauty inside the cave system. They captured the allure that can’t be described in words, said Vu.

“Seventy per cent of the scenes were filmed in the caves and mountains in Phong Nha, Tu Lan, Bo Trach and Dong Hoi,” he said.

The land is known for its pristine beauty, which hasn’t been exploited by humans. But producing it was also full of obstacles.

The ten days of shooting at Tu Lan Cave in Quang Binh was the hardest time for the crew, according to producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc.

Due to the difficult terrain, more than 100 people with heavy equipment needed the support of porters to complete the mission.

“We started a working day at 3.30am and ended at 10pm,” said Ngoc.

“It took much time to move and transport the devices. After one and a half hours travelling by car, we spent two hours walking in the forest, climbing up to the mountain and swimming in a stream to access the caves.”

Beyond the terrain, the cruel weather in Quang Binh was also a big challenge for the film crew.

“The shooting was often interrupted due to the weather, with sudden rains, scorching sun and dry winds”, said Ngoc.

“Sometimes the heavy rain raised the stream’s water level that we couldn’t enter the cave and sometimes we had to wait for hours for the rain to stop.”

Director Vu said he has always been charmed and thrilled in front of the beautiful scenery of the country. He always kept in his memory the landscapes of the places he visited, as he believed that one day, they could be ideal backgrounds for his films.

“The Immortal is the first film in which I felt free to introduce the scenic spots of the country,” said Vu.

The filmmakers said that they overcame many limits to complete the film. After the hard work, they felt delighted when watching the film, the sweet fruit of their labour.

Traditional culture depicted

As the life of Hung spreads over three centuries, the film crew also had to find suitable contexts and design the background to fit different historical periods, said Vu.

The crew also depicted cultural heritage by shooting at old villages of Cuu (Phu Xuyen District, Hanoi) and Nom (Hung Yen) as well as French-style villas in the Mekong Delta.

Audiences will understand the life and culture of Vietnamese people under feudalism, the colonial regime and in modern times.

Cultural elements like traditional customs, lifestyles, architecture, music and costumes will also be showcased.

In the role of a songstress, Jun Vu sings sweetly and beats bamboo castanets in hát ả đào (ceremonial singing).

Victor Vu is a director and writer, known for his Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass (2015), Scandal (2012) and Quả Tim Máu (Vengeful Heart, 2014).

While the film Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass lured more tourists to Phu Yen Province where the film was shot, Victor Vu expected that The Immortal will do it better in promoting national tourism.

The official trailer of The Immortal, released in June, has impressed audiences with the wonderful scenery in Quang Binh and bold mysterious colours. It also raises a series of questions for the audience about the supernatural.

The film stars Quach Ngoc Ngoan, Dinh Ngoc Diep and Jun Vu as the main actor and actresses; and Cuong Seven and Francois Negret as villains. Veteran actor Bui Bai Binh and actresses Chieu Xuan and Kim Xuan also join the film. 

By Minh Thu

Source: VNS