(NB&CL) The current state of film theory and criticism in our country is considered vague, even regressive, creating "gaps." Now that the film industry is making significant progress, filling these "gaps" needs to be done as quickly as possible.
Is criticism merely "flattery and praise"?
At a seminar held last weekend on the current state of literary and artistic theory and criticism in Ho Chi Minh City over the past 50 years, the issue of the lack of a strong critical force was once again raised by many experts and artists. The general consensus was that current theoretical and critical work is outdated in many aspects, detached from creative practice, showing signs of rigidity and lack of dynamism, and failing to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving film industry.
According to Associate Professor Phan Thi Bich Ha, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Film Association, film criticism is an indispensable element in creating a complete picture of an art form. In the field of cinema, film criticism needs to be honest, objective, and combine both criticism and commentary, without leaning too heavily towards subjective feelings. However, in reality, film criticism currently lacks in-depth reviews and instead suffers from a tendency towards "promotion, flattery, and praise," often commissioned or stemming from close relationships between writers and filmmakers. Meanwhile, when faced with sensitive and pressing issues, critics tend to be hesitant and evasive. This leads to inaccuracies in evaluation and creates a "gap" in film criticism.
"The prevailing trend in film criticism is often to avoid thorny, major issues, instead focusing on introducing films, writing artist profiles, or summarizing events. And most criticism tends to lean towards safe praise," Associate Professor Phan Thi Bich Ha observed.
The current state of film criticism in Vietnam has been highlighted by experts in numerous forums, highlighting the "weaknesses" and "shortcomings" of film reviews and criticisms on social media, often filled with bias and emotion, yet attracting a large young audience. Meanwhile, mainstream film criticism remains largely silent. Faced with this reality, a renowned director lamented that film criticism in Vietnam is "almost dead" due to the lack of serious, in-depth professional articles.
"Toxic" criticism reigns supreme.
Speaking with NB&CL, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Phuong, director of the TPD Center for Supporting the Development of Cinematic Talent, stated that currently, not only are there very few film critics, but they also have very few opportunities to showcase their work. Only a few specialized magazines have sections or pages dedicated to film criticism, but these are often not widely disseminated and have little influence. Significantly, most articles labeled as "film criticism" are actually just "articles about films," film reviews, or film introductions.
“Articles often recount behind-the-scenes stories, the private lives of actors… Even film analyses simply copy the film's content or only superficially analyze a few external aspects. Film criticism is almost devoid of quality articles,” Mr. Phuong said.
Furthermore, with the development of social media, the public is becoming accustomed to "quick reviews," and film critics have more tools to use in their work. However, these reviews are also rife with "toxicity," as they can reveal film content, or even be destructive and gang-attacking. In a context where everyone has a social media account and can say whatever they want about a film, a KOL (Key Opinion Leader) can completely create streams of praise or criticism of a film indiscriminately to achieve personal goals. Mr. Phuong believes that the internet is "full" of individuals slandering each other, spamming posts with harsh criticism of films, and using tools to comment en masse to "bring down rivals." These behaviors aim to influence and manipulate public opinion, causing public confusion and uncertainty about what is true and what is false...
The film "Southern Forest Land" once caused a lot of controversy.
Many also argue that the film criticism environment in Vietnam lacks systematic organization and professionalism, contributing to the chaos and unhealthy competition. The so-called "follow-the-trend criticism" and "trend-driven criticism" are becoming a major problem in the film industry. In this chaotic situation, it's understandable that the relationship between filmmakers and film critics is not very friendly. Nguyen Hoang Phuong asserted that in Vietnam, "90% of filmmakers hate film critics."
Explaining this statement, Mr. Phuong said that filmmaking is the work of many people, from screenwriters, directors, cinematographers, actors... Making a film takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication, but then suddenly it is criticized by an individual who lacks the necessary expertise and knowledge, which is certainly not something anyone would enjoy.
“A critic who lacks the necessary qualifications to criticize a film, and whose criticism is inaccurate, will certainly annoy the filmmaker. Director Tran Anh Hung once said something along the lines of, ‘You criticize my film, but who you are is important.’ A critic must be highly skilled in their field and knowledgeable about cinema for their criticism to be persuasive. In the US, where the film industry is extremely developed, film critics are all very famous writers; they have high expertise and influence over the public,” Mr. Phuong said.
"Awakening" the theorists and critics
Faced with this chaotic mix of praise and criticism, directors and filmmakers often choose to remain silent, ignoring the opinions and discussions surrounding their films.
However, in its guiding role, film criticism plays a particularly important part. When controversy arises surrounding a film, the public desperately needs to hear the voices of experts and critics to balance the situation through professional viewpoints and analyses. Furthermore, while viewers may praise or criticize a film, critics must point out its merits and flaws, and explain why it is good or bad. Therefore, filmmakers ignoring all praise and criticism is not a good thing.
According to Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of the Vietnam Film Development Promotion Association, film criticism is simply expressing an opinion, something anyone can do. However, if the theory doesn't align with the tastes of the people, Vietnamese cinema will find it very difficult to reach new heights. "When film criticism is neglected and forgotten, it contributes to the worsening trend of commercializing the values of cinema – including ideology, aesthetics, and art – leading to deviations from norms and a loss of direction," Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan assessed.
To foster a healthy film industry, experts believe that collaboration from many sides is necessary. In particular, the "weakness" of film criticism theory cannot be overcome overnight but requires long-term solutions. Accordingly, in addition to improving professional skills and encouraging and facilitating the work of film critics, it is necessary to build an environment of dialogue and respectful listening, promoting diversity of opinions and the sharing of viewpoints, thereby creating democratic forums for debate.
“Let’s give film theorists and critics an essential environment and space where they can practice their profession legitimately and professionally, and nurture their passion for research… We must create enthusiasm and reassurance for critics, so they don’t worry too much about making a living, and don’t feel pressured by loneliness and isolation in the face of public opinion storms when they speak out to defend standards of value. Only when film theorists and critics are not forgotten can we awaken film theory and criticism from its slumber,” proposed Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan.
The Vu
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lap-khoang-trong-ly-luan-phe-binh-dien-anh-post323234.html
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