From the shocking jealousy-fueled attack
Inspired by a famous domestic dispute in Saigon in the 1960s, Mesdames Thanh Sac (Mesdames' Beauty) has a promising start, compelling enough to draw audiences to the theaters.
The film is based on historical events, set in a glamorous world of nightclubs intertwined with power struggles and love affairs. However, the execution was flawed, causing the film to struggle from its opening week.
After 3 days, including early screenings, Mesdames Thanh Sac grossed approximately 7 billion VND. As of the afternoon of June 24th, the film had surpassed 11 billion VND, ranking 5th in the daily box office chart.
The release timing isn't necessarily an advantage for *Mesdames Thanh Sắc *. The market is currently still following the success of horror films like *Haunted*, * The Zombie Swarm*, *The Fire Mansion* , and *The Ghost* (released from theaters on June 23rd) - works that have already built their own audience base.
Toy Story 5 is also a formidable competitor, attracting a large audience of young people and families to theaters during the summer months.
The drama *Mesdames Thanh Sắc* revolves around the lives of the beautiful Cam Thanh (Thanh Hang) and Madame Sac (Hong Anh) - the wealthy owner of the Kim Do nightclub, who possesses many diamonds. Once close, the two women engage in a tense rivalry leading to shocking events.
The opening line, "The best is still just the best," spoken by Madame Sắc, is enough to expose the underlying stratification. It's no longer a simple competition, but a ruthless campaign to overthrow someone.
In the film, the Kim Do nightclub is depicted as a magnificent sanctuary in the heart of glamorous Saigon, where dazzling lights conceal power struggles and calculated ambitions.
Ba Dung (Luong The Thanh) - Madame Sac's powerful husband - is also a crucial link in the diamond smuggling ring. When emotions intertwine with self-interest, Cam Thanh is no longer just a dancer but becomes a pawn in the war.
The investment was elaborate but lacked substance.
The film opens by sketching out an intriguing setting, rich in material to explore. Viewers encounter shadowy tycoons, shady business dealings, and ambitions fueled by the bright lights of nightclubs. This sets the stage for conflicts involving money, power, and fame.
But as the film progresses, that element fades away. Social conflicts are overshadowed by personal conflicts. The film seems to narrow the scope of the story. The first half focuses on the fate of the main character. In the second half, the film concentrates on the feuds between the three main characters.
The downside is that the social conflict element lacks the weight to become the central focus, while the romantic storyline also lacks the depth to replace it.
There's no denying the team invested significantly in the art direction.
The costumes, styling, and disco setting evoke a sense of luxury and glamour. Scenes featuring Cam Thanh or Madame Sac are meticulously crafted, creating a classic beauty rarely seen in recent Vietnamese cinema.
However, while the setting is elaborately constructed, it lacks the realism of a living space. The streets, houses, and objects appearing on screen seem overly ostentatious and staged.
That's why the film has many beautiful shots but lacks a sense of realism.
The technical aspects are also inconsistent. Action sequences, explosions, or chases sometimes draw viewers' attention more to the technical aspects than to the plot development.
Nevertheless, the film still scores points in some visually stunning moments. The scenes in the nightclub or the confrontations between the two female protagonists are still able to hold the audience's attention thanks to their eye-catching staging and visuals.
Hong Anh is too outstanding.
If I had to choose one reason to stay with Mesdames Thanh Sac until the very end, it would be Hong Anh.
The actress portrays Madame Sắc as a multi-layered woman. Hồng Ánh's character in the film is powerful yet insecure, fierce yet lonely. Madame Sắc is not confined to the archetype of villain or victim, but always possesses gray areas that make viewers both wary and sympathetic.
This is the most polished performance in the film. Hong Anh's experienced acting highlights the multifaceted nature of the character.
Thanh Hằng showed seriousness in her return to the big screen. The supermodel did not do badly in scenes exuding arrogance and star power. However, when the script in the second half demanded a deeper exploration of dramatic events and significant psychological shifts, Thanh Hằng clearly revealed her awkwardness and unnaturalness.
Thanh Hằng's lack of expressiveness is the reason why the scene where the supermodel sits in the car with Lương Thế Thành has been widely discussed on social media. Compared to her performance in the film "Mother-in-Law" nearly 10 years ago, Thanh Hằng's acting has shown almost no breakthrough.
The character Cam Thanh goes through many major events, but her emotional journey isn't fully conveyed. Some emotionally intense scenes feel more like they're external events than stemming from the character's inner self.
The male cast generally performed well, but failed to leave a lasting impression commensurate with their roles in the story. This inadvertently shifted the entire weight of the film almost entirely onto the two female lead actresses.
Luong The Thanh has made a mark in television, but he lacks the appeal of a movie theater, which currently favors young, promising male actors.
Mesdames Thanh Sắc has compelling material, a good production, and moments that are captivating enough to keep viewers engaged. However, amidst the many ideas it wants to tell, the film fails to connect them all into a unified whole.
Source: https://tienphong.vn/bi-kich-cua-vu-nu-het-thoi-post1854026.tpo
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