A scene in Song Lang (The Tap Box), a film on the 100-year history and development of cai luong (reformed opera), a genre of traditional theatre in the South (Photo courtesy of VAA)HCM City (VNA) - Movie star andproducer Ngo Thanh Van’s latest film, Song Lang (The Tap Box), willcompete in the Tokyo International Film Festival 2018 (TIFF).
The film was selected to be screened at the OpeningInternational Premiere in the Asian Future Category.
Song Lang highlights the 100-year history anddevelopment of “cai luong” (reformed opera), a traditional theatre genrein the South.
It features a group of “cai luong” artistsin HCM City in the 1980s, focusing on the challenges they face to preservetheir art.
It also centres on the career of a youngperformer, Linh Phung, who makes sacrifices to pursue his dream.
Van invited Vietnamese-American Leon Le to directher film. Le researched many documents and books on “cai luong” beforefilming.
The film stars pop singer and actor Issac, winnerof the Rising Star of Asia’s Star Awards at the 21st Busan InternationalFestival in 2016, and young actors Tu Quyen and Lien Binh Phat.
These artists spent several days to practicesinging and dancing “cai luong” with experts.
Song Lang hit cinemas in August. “Iwanted to capture the beauty of Vietnamese culture and lifestyle in films,”said producer Van, who has more than 20 years of experience in the industry.
Her new project, Than Dong Dat Viet (VietnameseProdigies), based on Vietnamese folk stories, will begin filming late this year.
Last year, Van’s Co Ba Sai Gon (TheTailor), a romantic comedy on Vietnamese women in Sai Gon (now HCM City)in the 1960s, was screened and honoured at the 22nd Busan InternationalFilm Festival in Busan, the Republic of Korea.
The film’s leading character, young actress NinhDuong Lan Ngoc of HCM City, was named Face of Asia at the Asia Star Awards 2017.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’sDepartment of Cinematography recently decided to send Co Ba Sai Gon tothe US’s 91st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.
The 10-day event TIFF will begin in Tokyo onOctober 25. It has attracted 1,829 films come from 109 countries andterritories.
Song Lang will compete with eight films from China,the Republic of Korea and Taiwan for top prizes for the Best Asian Future FilmAward and The Spirit of Asia Award, presented by the Japan Foundation AsiaCentre.-VNA
VNA
