VietNamNet Bridge – Four well-known works by writer Vu Trong Phung, which accurately and vividly reflect Vietnamese society under French rule, have been turned into a film called Tro Doi (Game of Life).

A scene from the film ‘Tro Doi’.

Directed by Pham Nhue Giang, the script for the 32-episode series was compiled from four works written by Vu Trong Phung between 1934-1945; So Do (Dumb Luck), Com Thay Com Co (Household Servants), Ky Nghe Lay Tay (The Industry of Marrying Europeans) and Lam Di (To be a Whore).

The film adaptation is part of activities to celebrate the 101th birthday of Vu Trong Phung, who helped develop a realistic orientation for Vietnamese literature. He was born on October 20, 1912 in Hao village in Hung Yen province, but spent most of his life in Hanoi.

The author started his literary career very early, releasing his debut novel, Dut Tinh (Breaking Up), in 1934. Just two years later, he produced a series of novels in the realist style, which focused on social issues, winning him critical acclaim. He was also called the “Northern King of Reportage” for many famous media reports.

He died of tuberculosis in 1939 at the age of 27. Vu Trong Phung left readers with a remarkable body of work during his short professional life, including nine novels, seven reportages, two plays, and several dozen short stories, notes, essays and translations.

The film’s director Pham Nhue Giang said that although Vu Trong Phung only lived until 27, his amazing works, such as Dumb Luck, The Storm and To Be a Whore are still valuable in modern society.

Tro Doi is the first film to be released under a project carried out by the Vietnam Television Film Centre (VFC), Vietnam Television (VTV) and Viet Nam Cinematography's Association's Hodafilm. The project aims to create films based on literary works written from 1930-1945.

The film’s script was written by developing writer Le Anh Thuy and edited by Trinh Thanh Nha. “The film has a sexual flavour, which is controlled strictly because the movie will be aired nationally to audiences of all ages”, director Giang said.

The filmmakers used scenes from around Ha Noi, Hai Phong City and the northern provinces of Nam Dinh and Bac Ninh that accurately recreate Vietnamese society before 1945.

Additionally, more than 200 costumes designed by artist Thanh Ha adhere closely to the fashions of the time.

The film combines the talent of veteran artists and young artists, such as Meritorious Artist Minh Hang, Meritorious Artist Quoc Anh, Viet Bac, Minh Phuong, Bao Thanh and Thuy An.

“Tro Doi is expected to be a highlight of Vietnamese movies in 2013”, according to director of the VFC, Meritorious Artist Do Thanh Hai.

Source: Nhan Dan