"Grand Tour" is set in 1917 when Burma was under British control. The story follows British civil servant Edward (Gonçalo Waddington), who abandons his fiancée Molly (Crista Alfaiate) before their wedding day.

When Molly learns of Edward's disappearance, she sets out on a journey to find him, tracing his path through various countries, including China, Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

The film is divided into two parts, taking viewers along the winding routes of these countries. Miguel Gomes' direction in "Grand Tour" earned him the prestigious Best Director award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Notably, "Grand Tour" includes a poignant a cappella performance of "Da Co Hoai Lang" by artist Linh Huyen. In an interview with VietNamNet, Linh Huyen shared that she initially auditioned for an Asian role in the film without any specific expectations. When her resume was reviewed, the assistant director was surprised and informed Miguel Gomes about Linh Huyen's background as a Vietnamese theater artist.

During their discussion, Linh Huyen learned that the director needed a piece of music reflective of Vietnam's cultural context in 1917. The scene in question involved Molly reminiscing about her travels, with a maid in the Mekong Delta humming while doing housework. Linh Huyen suggested "Da Co Hoai Lang" as the perfect song for this scene.

Confident in her ability to sing various regional versions of the song, Linh Huyen asked, "I can sing all the songs of the North, Central, and South regions. Which one do you want to hear?" After deliberation, the crew decided on the version by the late artist Tu Be, based on Linh Huyen's advice.

The assistant director filmed a sample of Linh Huyen singing and sent it to Miguel Gomes. Moved by her performance, Gomes and co-writer Maureen Fazendeiro decided to have Linh Huyen record "Da Co Hoai Lang" for the film instead of playing an extra in a puppet show scene as initially planned.

On the scheduled recording day, Linh Huyen performed the piece in one take, choosing a rustic a cappella style to match the scene's atmosphere.

Miguel Gomes was deeply moved by her rendition, expressing his emotions with a hug and admitting that her performance brought him to tears. Linh Huyen felt that it was the spirit of the Vietnamese culture embedded in the song that touched the 52-year-old director. Gomes also expressed his interest in involving her in future projects.

During the Cannes Film Festival, Linh Huyen was kept updated by Maureen on the film's progress, culminating in the Best Director win. Recently, Miguel's assistant contacted her to thank her for her contribution and to invite her to participate in interviews with international media alongside the film crew. Linh Huyen is currently arranging her schedule to accommodate these requests.

"I am proud to contribute my voice to a major production like 'Grand Tour.' More importantly, viewers will have the opportunity to listen to 'Da Co Hoai Lang,' fulfilling my lifelong wish to introduce traditional Vietnamese art to an international audience," Linh Huyen shared.

Gia Bao