Set in the Nguyen Dynasty in a village in the North, the film “The Last Wife” tells the love story of Linh (played by Kaity Nguyen) and Nhan (played by Thuan Nguyen) amidst the feudal barriers. Linh was married off as the concubine of the Duc Trong district magistrate (played by Meritorious Artist Quang Thang). During a reunion with her ex-lover (Nhan), Linh’s desire for a peaceful and loving life arose...
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| Image from the movie “The Last Wife” by director Victor Vu. Photo provided by the film crew |
According to producer Dinh Ngoc Diep, the costumes for the film “The Last Wife” amounted to hundreds of sets, all tailored specifically for each actor; the three actresses playing the three wives wore nearly ten sets each. Director Victor Vu said that when he read the novel “Lake of Hatred”, he imagined the village of Cua Ngop as a small village by the lake, at the foot of the mountain and was quite worried when surveying the filming location. Luckily, the director and the film production crew found Ba Be Lake in Bac Kan and completed their vision of the film’s setting.
The special factor that inspired the director and Ghia Ci Fam, the film's Art Director, was the time they spent experiencing the life and culture of the Tay people (the ethnic group that lives mainly in this area); in addition, they also consulted many sources of documents, including the book "Mechanics and crafts of the Annamites" - a research work on material civilization in Annam about 100 years ago, conducted by a Frenchman named Henri Oger and Vietnamese artisans - to study the daily life and work of the ancient Vietnamese people.
“We hope that through the film we can demonstrate the unique cultural depth of Vietnam, spreading it to domestic and international audiences,” director Victor Vu shared.
“The beauty of “The Last Wife” is that it does not claim to be completely historical or purely Northern, but rather strives to honor the cultural beauty of all three regions, North - Central - South. Combined with creative elements and adaptations to suit the modern breath, the film gives the audience an experience that is both aesthetic and cinematic, and very Vietnamese,” commented screenwriter Trinh Thanh Nha.
The creativity based on the crew's tradition has created the image of the woman in "The Last Wife" that combines the traditional beauty of the three regions such as: hair in a bun or a bun, a five-panel dress with tight or loose sleeves, a necklace, a necklace... expressing the character's own personality. For example, the character of the first wife (played by Meritorious Artist Kim Oanh) is designed with warm colors such as red, dark brown, on a fabric with few patterns.
This shows the somewhat strict and hot-tempered personality of the woman who is the head of the family, with more concerns than spending time taking care of her clothes and fancy accessories. The character of the second wife (played by Dinh Ngoc Diep) is dressed in alternating warm and cold tones but not too bold, creating a comfortable feeling. On the fabric are many elaborate patterns, the accompanying jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets are diverse and splendid, showing a straightforward and carefree personality. It can be said that this is a character representing satire to balance the film's flow.
The image of the third wife - the final wife, played by Kaity Nguyen - appears with soft tones and a familiar style. When the third wife stands next to the two previous wives, the difference in clothing color creates the feeling that this is a pale concubine, of low birth, always in a sad mood.
Returning to the historical film genre after more than 10 years (previously the film "Thien Menh Anh Hung"), director Victor Vu, a Vietnamese-American, is on a trend of returning to his homeland to contribute his talent and dedication to the development of the country's cinema art, while expressing his desire for the opportunity to exploit the beauty of Vietnamese culture and images through films.
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