African boy plays extra in 'Peach, Pho and Piano'

Oraiden Manuel, 24, from Mozambique, hopes to star in more historical films after playing a French soldier in "Peach, Noodles and Piano".

In director Phi Tien Son's film, Oraiden Manuel makes a brief appearance, speaking a few short lines in French. He said that despite his limited screen time, he and the other extras worked from morning till night for five days on set, reshooting many scenes until they met the requirements. Oraiden said he admired the crew's meticulousness and was happy to have everyone's support in completing his role, gaining new experiences.

Oraiden Manuel (right) on the set of Peach, Pho and Piano. Photo: Provided by the subject. — Oraiden Manuel (right) on the set of "Peach, Pho, and Piano". Photo: *Provided by the subject.*

Oraiden Manuel was cast when the teacher in charge of foreign students at Hanoi University of Technology called for him. He was chosen because he knew a little French and had the right height. During filming, thanks to his knowledge of both Vietnamese and English, Oraiden assisted in interpreting for several foreign actors.

"Some of the Vietnamese actors knew I spoke Vietnamese, so they chatted with me and learned more about Mozambique, Africa. To this day, I still keep in touch with everyone on the crew, and we often text each other to check in," Oraiden said.

Oraiden Manuel (sixth from the left) and the foreign actors playing French soldiers in the film. Photo: Provided by the subject. — Oraiden Manuel (sixth from the left) and the foreign actors playing French soldiers in the film. Photo: *Provided by the subject* .

When Dao, pho, and piano gained attention, Oraiden Manuel sent pictures of himself in the film to his parents. Due to the geographical distance and limited information, Oraiden Manuel's parents were initially alarmed, thinking there was a war in Vietnam and their son was fighting. After it was explained that the images were from a film, his parents were proud and often showed off their son's activities to their colleagues.

In the future, Oraiden hopes to have the opportunity to act in more historical films, including a role in a Mozambique film about love during the war between Mozambique and Portugal. "I have a passion for history, and I'm also interested in film projects that focus on people and countries," Oraiden said.

Born in 2000, Oraiden Manuel is currently a student majoring in Electrical Engineering at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. He previously attended a top-tier university in Mozambique but dropped out to study in Vietnam on a scholarship from the Vietnamese government. Before entering Hanoi University of Science and Technology, he studied Vietnamese for a year. His teachers gave him the Vietnamese name "Duc" to facilitate communication during his studies. His friends often call him "Duc Den" (Black Duc). Passionate about the Vietnamese language and history, Oraiden Manuel has achieved many accomplishments, including first prize in the 2021 university-level student scientific research competition and first prize in the third political essay contest on defending the Party's ideological foundations organized by the Hanoi City Party Committee.