Lion and dragon dance art brought to the big screen.

The art of lion and dragon dance has been chosen for the first time as the setting for the film 'Tien Len Ky Ky', a cinematic project by director Khoa Nguyen aimed at encouraging young people to pursue their dreams.

Why the lion-dragon motif?

During the days when the "Tien Len Ky Ky" project was underway, the news that "The Lion, Dragon, and Unicorn Dance of the Chinese community in Ho Chi Minh City has been included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage" further excited the production team.

According to director Khoa Nguyen, lion and dragon dances have appeared in films and many other art forms, but they have almost never been used as the foundation for a main story in a feature film and brought to the big screen in Vietnam. He also noted that although lion and dragon dances are folk art forms believed to have originated in China a long time ago, they have gradually become popular in many Asian countries. In Vietnam, lion and dragon dances have been considered a unique folk art form for generations, strongly maintained and developed, and even elevated to a competitive sporting event (after the 2024 tournament – ​​the first time HTV collaborated with the People's Committee of District 5 and the Ho Chi Minh City Lion and Dragon Dance Federation to organize the District 5 International Lion and Dragon Dance Tournament - Cho Lon Cup 2025 – a large-scale event attracting more than 40 lion and dragon dance troupes from across the country).

Lion and dragon dances will serve as the backdrop for Tien Len Ky Ky.

Photo: Provided by the interviewee

"By using lion and dragon dances as the backdrop for the film's story, I hope to convey to the audience a more accurate view of this art form. And above all, because lion and dragon dances are very lively and vibrant, suitable for a story aimed at young people, I used them as the foundation to tell 'Tien Len Ky Ky '," the director shared. He added that the team worked with Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tu, Vice President and General Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Lion and Dragon Dance Federation, and through him connected with the Tinh Anh Duong Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe to provide support and professional advice for this film project.

"I say this to show that, when making films that touch upon cultural issues, I pay attention to understanding and accurately portraying the essence of the art form featured in the film. I hope that when the film is released, audiences can enjoy the film's content and the art of lion and dragon dance on the big screen, and at the same time gain a better understanding of it," the director from the 80s generation expressed.

Encouraging young people to pursue their passions.

Within the scope of the film project, the film crew "relied" on the lion and dragon dance to serve the purpose of encouraging young people to strongly pursue their passions with the belief in overcoming difficulties (from social prejudices to family opposition). "More and more new professions are emerging, young people dare to think big and act boldly, but parents are always worried about their children's future. That's why I wanted to tell a story to motivate young people to pursue and realize their dreams. The film's title, therefore, is like an encouragement," he said.

Director Khoa Nguyen on the set of The Listener: Whispers

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT

Following the film The Listener: Whispers - about human trauma viewed through the lens of psychotherapy, Khoa Nguyen shared: "I continue to pursue limitless stories about human issues. But with 'Go, Ky Ky ,' I chose a more universal, more accessible way of telling the story: about young people pursuing their passions or generational conflict."

Explaining his choice further, Khoa Nguyen said: "From a market perspective, I've noticed that over the years, investors have tended to focus on projects that quickly cater to audience tastes, such as romance or spiritual/horror dramas. Personally, I want to balance audience preferences with the values ​​the film brings to viewers. Choosing a practical topic relevant to the current context and with a meaningful message to encourage and motivate young people will help me achieve this aspiration."

Director Khoa Nguyen graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Theatre and Film (majoring in directing) and is known for his notable works such as the short film "Come Back Home " (2018): which participated in 11 international film festivals in the USA, Spain, Poland, Italy, India, Australia, and South Africa; received 6 nominations and won 3 awards including: Best Short Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound Design.

Listeners: The Whispering (2021): participated in 6 international film festivals in the US, UK, Hong Kong, Australia, and Nigeria; received 16 nominations and won 12 awards including: Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress…; the film was screened in the panorama program at the Vietnam Film Festival 2021.

The short film Exchange - 2022: participated in 5 international film festivals in Europe and won 4 awards including: Best Short Film, Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actress.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nghe-thuat-lan-su-rong-len-man-anh-rong-185250426213152125.htm