Vietnamese-American director Victor Vu’s Loi Bao (In the Storm), released lastweekend, has attracted more than 30,000 people in Ho Chi Minh City.
The 1 million USD-film features secrets about a superman played by dancer andrapper Cuong Seven, who fights evil and protects justice.
Vu worked on the film with art director Vincent Wang, who has been involved inHollywood blockbusters Doctor Strange, The Great Wall, Now You See Me andDracula Untold.
He also invited a crew of lighting and sound specialists from Thailand who workin filming and post-production. His staff spent several months in Da Latfilming kung-fu scenes.
“I spent a lot in filming because I want my audiences to watch quality actionscenes,” Vu told local media.
“My film is not about a Hollywood superman. It portrays a Vietnamese characterwho lives simply but works to keep the country and people safe,” he said.
Actor Quach Ngoc Ngoan, winner of the titleMai Vang Award for the year’s Best Film Actor from Nguoi Lao Dong (Labourer)newspaper in 2015, plays a supporting role in the film.
“I think Vu’s Loi Bao is the best work of its kind on superman in Vietnam,”said moviegoer Nguyen Dan Phuong of HCM City.
Vu, a graduate of Loyola Marymount University in the US, began his career in Vietnamafter his film, Chuyen Tinh Xa Xu (Passport to Love), won Favourite Film at theGolden Kite Award given by the Vietnam Cinematography Association in 2008.
The romantic comedy attracted visual effects director Peter Soto, composerChristopher Wong, costume designer Michelle Ngo and Vietnamese-American actressKathy Uyen, all of whom left a fresh impression on Vietnamese audiences. It wasalso distributed in the US.
His second film in Vietnam, Giao Lo Dinh Menh (Inferno), released in 2010,starred dozens of young artists. The film is about the work and love of urbanyouth.
Two years later, his kung fu film ThienMenh Anh Hung (Blood Letter) won the jury prize at the International FilmFestival in Hanoi.
In 2013, his film Bi Mat Tham Do (Scandal), a work about the secrets of thefilm business, received the Golden Kite Prize for best director, presented bythe Vietnam Cinematography Association. Both films scored box office records.
His fourth film Qua Tim Mau (Vengeful Heart), a horror film, earned more than 24billion VND (1.1 million USD) in just three days after its release in2014.
“I learned a lot about Vietnam’s history, traditional culture and lifestyle,”said Vu, adding that he sees his future in Vietnam.
Another Vietnamese film is Khi Con La Nha (When You’re Home). Director Vu NgocDang’s psychological production features comedy scenes starring Luong Manh Hai,who is also the film’s producer.
The film tells the story of a poor father and his son who moved from theirvillage to earn a living in a big City.
Dang, who has worked on several films and TV series, used child actor Pham DuyAnh to attract young fans.
“The film is for all members of the family to enjoy during the holiday season.It is a song of life and love,” said Dan, a graduate of the HCM City Universityof Theatre and Cinematography.
“After watching, I hope audiences, particularly young people, will learn aboutbravery, honour, and responsibility,” he added.
Khi Con La Nha will be screened in cinemas tomorrow to welcome the New Year.-VNA