A scene from Lat Mat:48 Gio (Face Off: 48 Hours), an action comedy about love and family by producer Ly Hai of HCM City. (Photo courtesy of the producer) HCMCity (VNS/VNA) - Cinemas in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, thetwo biggest markets in the country, closed on May 3 until furthernotice after new COVID-19 community cases were confirmed.
Vietnamese filmmakers are expected to face losses after the four-day nationalholiday, which began on April 30.
Three Vietnamese films, Thien Than Ho Menh (TheGuardian), Trang Ti (ChildMaster) and Lat Mat:48 Gio (Face Off: 48 Hours),have temporarily stopped screening.
Thien Than Ho Menh, released on April 29, has earned 26.7 billion VND (1.15million USD) in ticket sales. Its competitor, TrangTi, earned 15.3 billion VND (657,000 USD) after four days ofrelease, according to the Box Office Vietnam, which provides ticketsale reports of film productions in Vietnam.
Thien Than Ho Menh is a thriller by Vietnamese-American directorVictor Vu, a graduate of Loyola Marymount University in the US.
The film features three young women who feed and dress life-sizedbaby dolls as if they are living things.
Its trailer, which features haunting scenes, has attracted more than103,000 views on YouTube.
Director Vu combined Vietnamese and Hollywood styles in his film.
The film’s producer, Tfilm Entertainment, said they are workingwith foreign partners to release ThienThan Ho Menh in 12 countries, such as Australia, Canada, Hungary,France, Ireland, the UK and US.
Trang Ti is a new production by blockbuster director Phan Gia NhatLinh.
The film is about Vietnamese folk stories. It features fourchild characters called Ti (Mouse), Suu (Buffalo), Dan (Tiger) and Meo(Cat), who live in a remote village and use theirintelligence to protect villagers.
The soundtrack is composed by Duc Tri, a graduate of the Berkelee Collegeof Music in the US. Tri uses folk music from people in thenorthern and southern regions to highlight the film’s theme.
Trang Ti was postponed twice due to the Covid-19outbreak. It was first scheduled to be released in cinemasin May last year. Its release during the Tet (LunarNew Year) holiday period in February was also cancelled.
Its trailer on YouTube has attracted more than one million viewers.
The film’s producer, Studio68, and its partners spent 43 billion VND (1.85million USD) on the production.
In a recent interview with HCM City-based TuoiTre (Youth) newspaper, movie star and director-producer Ngo Thanh Van,owner of Studio68, said: “I’m very sad. I have no idea about my profitsfrom ticket sales.”
Lat Mat:48 Gio was released two weeks ago and earned 153billion VND (6.8 million USD) at the box office. The film earned19.2 billion VND (825,600 USD) in just four days after release from April29 to May 2.
“To live in the unfortunate time of COVID-19 is to always prepare for the worstscenarios,” said the film’s producer Ly Hai, owner of Ly Hai ProductionStudio.
Lat Mat:48 Gio features a family trying to escapefrom a gang that is chasing them.
The action comedy highlights themes about love and family,starring veteran actors Vo Thanh Tam, Huynh Dong and Oc Thanh Van in themain roles.
Producer Hai invited fight choreographers Hai Bui of Vietnam and Kim Chung Minof the Republic of Korea to take part in the film.
“Lat Mat:48 Gio contains thrillingaction scenes filmed at floating markets, and on boats and ferries,” said TranHoang Anh, a fan in HCM City./.
VNA
