Multi-colored Vietnamese films adapted from literature

FROM TELEVISION TO CINEMA

It can be said that the film adaptation of "Southern Forest Land, " directed by Nguyen Quang Dung and inspired by the novel of the same name by writer Doan Gioi, which was released in October 2023, was the first work to "lay the groundwork" for Vietnamese films to be "remade." The film generated mixed opinions at the time and inevitably led to comparisons with the television version of "Southern Forest Land " directed by Nguyen Vinh Son, broadcast in 1997, which was loved by many generations of viewers and became synonymous with the characters of little An, Co, and Uncle Ba Phi, played by Hung Thuan, Phung Ngoc, and artist Mac Can.

Scene from the movie Kaleidoscope: Demanding revenge from the ghost.

The film "Kaleidoscope: Revenge on the Ghost," released on December 24th, is adapted by director Vo Thanh Hoa from two stories, "Revenge on the Porcelain Flower" and "The Grave and the Ghost," from the long-running "Kaleidoscope " series (54 episodes, written in the 1990s-2000s) by author Nguyen Nhat Anh. It is expected to be a fresh "remake." Previously, the television adaptation of "Kaleidoscope ," directed by Nguyen Minh Chung and adapted by Do Phu Hai, aired in 2004 and created a sensation among audiences of many generations, making actors like Anh Dao, Ngoc Trai, and Vu Long beloved figures.

Speaking about the differences compared to the television version, director Vo Thanh Hoa said: "It took us more than three years to find the answer to whether or not we could do this project. With a creative team all being fans of 'Kaleidoscope ,' we wanted to open up a new perspective, a fresh breath from the old. We wanted to build a fresh 'Kaleidoscope' while respecting the old values ​​of the television version and focusing on the content of the story by author Nguyen Nhat Anh."

Soon, the novel * Số Đỏ* (The Red Number) by writer Vũ Trọng Phụng will also be adapted into a film, with Phan Gia Nhật Linh serving as both director and screenwriter. This is an international collaborative project between film companies from Vietnam, Singapore, and South Korea.

Speaking to Thanh Nien newspaper , director Phan Gia Nhat Linh said that singer Mono will play the role of Xuan Toc Do, but he couldn't reveal any further information. This marks the first time "So Do" ( The Red Number) has been adapted for the big screen, following several stage versions and two television series: "So Do," released in 1990 and directed by Ha Van Trong and Long Chuong; and "Tro Doi" ( Life's Games ) directed by Pham Nhue Giang (2013), which garnered significant attention.

The first time The Lucky Number is being brought to the big screen.

A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FOR THE AUDIENCE

According to director Vo Thanh Hoa, having multiple versions of the film adaptation will create different experiences for viewers, because both television and film versions have their own creative elements.

"When I watched the TV series 'Kaleidoscope ,' I remember coming home from school, washing my face, eating dinner, and then waiting for the show to start… I had plenty of time to interact with Hanh, Long, and Quy because the series was 28-29 episodes long, the dialogue was slow, and there was more time to tell the story. In the film, it's more concise and tightly structured, the 'arc' from top to bottom is less than two hours. I only used two special episodes of 'Kaleidoscope' to introduce the film, it can't encompass the entire series, but it will paint an emotional arc and offer healing for middle-aged adults as well as teenage audiences," Vo Thanh Hoa shared.

While acknowledging the pressure of playing Hạnh in the film adaptation, given that Anh Đào had portrayed the role so impressively in the television version, Phương Duyên stated: "If I kept thinking about how to overcome the shadow and clung to that pressure, I wouldn't be able to do anything. Therefore, I freely explored and developed the character from the story in my own way, aiming to present a 'smaller' version of Hạnh that is as relatable as possible to the audience."

Hung Anh, who plays Quy Rom in the film adaptation, also said he felt a lot of pressure when he was chosen for the role. "Playing Quy Rom is my dream, so I prepared very carefully, from embodying the character to how I portrayed him. I didn't read the book much, but I watched the TV series quite closely, focusing on some key episodes. Through that, I saw many interesting nuances in the acting style of Ngoc Trai (Quy Rom in the TV series). I combined these aspects with the director's guidance to create a unique portrayal of Quy Rom's personality – a mix of arrogance and cowardice," Hung Anh shared.

Furthermore, according to the director of the television series "Southern Land," Nguyen Vinh Son, there will certainly be differences when a film adaptation is conveyed through the language of cinema or television. "The differences will be due to the time of production, the creative ideas, and the audience's perception," director Nguyen Vinh Son said.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/da-sac-phim-viet-chuyen-the-tu-van-hoc-185241226215309926.htm