The film "The Prince of Bac Lieu" (CTBL) has been eagerly awaited by audiences for nearly two years, ever since news broke that the Pink Film Studio announced this project. This is because he is a real-life figure associated with many facts and anecdotes that have become synonymous with Bac Lieu.
There are both criticisms and praises, but the widespread public opinion demonstrates the broad reach of the CTBL brand!
Actor Song Luan in the role of Ba Hon in the film "The Prince of Bac Lieu". Photo: Internet.
Go see the portrait of the young master.
From the very beginning of the film, the production team cleverly included an introduction stating that the film was only inspired by the character of CTBL and had some fictional elements added. However, CTBL remains a real person and is a brand for Bac Lieu tourism . The film's direct mention of CTBL will inevitably influence how viewers perceive this real-life figure. The CTBL complex, where many scenes in the film were shot, is one of the typical tourist destinations in the Mekong Delta and was recently voted "An Attractive Tourist Destination in Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta."
Those who aren't from Bac Lieu think, "I have to watch the movie to see how extravagant Bac Lieu's son was, because I've heard stories about him burning money to cook eggs to show off his wealth." Those from Bac Lieu are even more eager to see how their local "prince" is portrayed in a film!
The rebellious nature of CTBL is quite successfully portrayed by actor Song Luan through his demeanor, the way he addresses his parents, and his Western-influenced behavior, especially after returning from studying abroad in France and obtaining a pilot's license instead of academic qualifications. In this aspect, it's almost a true reflection of CTBL in real life.
Undeniably, the name CTBL has been associated for over a hundred years with a magnificent estate that was the family estate of the Tran Trinh clan – a place that preserves the glorious legacy of a notoriously wealthy family in the six provinces of Southern Vietnam. Therefore, the character of CTBL evokes a certain "Bac Lieu persona" when watching the film. Throughout the film, we see the portrait of a young man educated in the West, so the Western European influence overshadows the Southern Vietnamese character. While the truth and legends about a real-life CTBL are still debated, the excessive fictionalization of his debauchery and outrageous behavior in the film creates a somewhat negative impression of this famous young man from Bac Lieu! The image of stacks of money being continuously burned during the sweet soup-making competition between Ba Hon (CTBL) and Tu Phat to win the favor of the beautiful Bay Loan in the film leaves viewers shaking their heads in disapproval. Although later on, Ba Hon also had many incidents proving his compassion for the people (flying a plane to scatter money over the fields), his determination to earn money through his own talent (taking over his father's An Nam Thanh Vuong Bank to have money to buy... a plane), and his desire to demonstrate national pride before the "mother country" (France)...
"The actor's demeanor didn't quite capture the elegance and natural charisma of CTBL in the minds of many," commented an elderly audience member at CGV Vincom Bac Lieu after watching the film. And numerous mixed reviews regarding the main character of this film, "inspired by CTBL," confirm the immense influence of the CTBL character!
The role of CTBL was overshadowed by his... papa (father) - Councillor Linh, portrayed brilliantly by Meritorious Artist Thanh Loc. Meanwhile, other roles such as the Prince of My Tho - Tu Phat (actor Cong Duong), and the courtesan Bay Loan (Miss Doan Thien An) were too bland and lacked screen time... these were the comments from the majority of viewers after watching the film.
The architectural and artistic relic of the Bac Lieu Prince's House - where many scenes in the film "The Bac Lieu Prince" were filmed. Photo: HT
What is the message from the movie CTBL?
It's not bad, but there are too many regrettable aspects to a film that audiences were eagerly anticipating. The biggest regret is that the film failed to deliver a clear message.
Despite numerous dramatic plot points and philosophical exchanges between father and son, the script attempts to convey the main message of valuing hard-earned money, but it still lacks persuasiveness! Considering the level of wealth—enough to live lavishly for three generations—as depicted in the film from the beginning, even with the plot twists designed to lead Ba Hon into humiliating failure, his father's backing ensures that Ba Hon learns no lesson.
The message of teaching children independence from an extremely strict father quickly faded when the scenario unfolded where Councilor Linh "made a 180-degree turn," handing over An Nam Thanh Vuong Bank to his son, a bank he had recently decided to close, in order to put an end to his spoiled son's reckless behavior?!
Everyone's subjective feelings will differ, but piecing together many audience comments reveals a common point: the film isn't terrible, but there are many regrettable aspects! Too many rambling details are used to promote the reckless image of CTBL without focusing on any single message throughout the two hours! "It seems the filmmakers tried to cram the film with anecdotes, resulting in the audience not knowing what they're watching," concluded one audience member sitting next to me while watching the movie.
Cam Thuy
Source: https://www.baobaclieu.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/di-xem-cong-tu-bac-lieu-tren-phim-98347.html
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