The actors in the film "Sáng đèn" (Lights on) had to carry rice sacks for hire and polish tables and chairs to make a living, as portrayed by artists Hữu Châu and Lê Phương.
*This article contains spoilers for the movie.
Trailer for the film "Lights Up". Video : MegaGS
Director Hoang Tuan Cuong's film was released on March 22nd, more than a month after its release date was postponed to the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon. Set in 1994, a period when many traditional opera troupes in the Mekong Delta were beginning to disband, the Vien Phuong troupe, led by impresario Huu Chau, was struggling to make ends meet. From a traditional opera troupe, to suit popular tastes, they transformed into a variety show, performing plays interspersed with circus acts and comedy.
The script devotes much of its running time to the lives of actors and actresses pursuing a singing career. In one scene, the theater manager lifts the curtain and looks out at the audience, stifling a sigh as he sees only a handful of people watching. They no longer perform on large stages or in luxurious theaters like in the golden age, but instead wander from riverbanks to temples and shrines. The actors sing while constantly fearing power outages, a worry etched on their faces.
The story of the Vien Phuong theater troupe is inspired by the Southern Vietnamese Cai Luong (traditional opera) scene in the early 1990s. Photo: Huong Le
The pressure of making ends meet weighs heavily on the artists as they struggle to earn enough to eat each day. Away from the stage, young actor Canh Thanh (Bach Cong Khanh) works carrying rice sacks for hire during the day, while lead actress Kim Yen (Le Phuong) polishes tables and chairs to supplement their income. The troupe also faces the risk of disbandment when they fall under the scrutiny of protection rackets if they refuse to pay bribes. The director doesn't dramatize the characters' fates but interweaves many self-deprecating moments and dialogues, evoking bittersweet laughter.
Huu Chau plays the role of the owner of a traveling theater troupe who has spent his entire life yearning to continue the family business. Photo: Huong Le
Among the cast, Huu Chau stands out with his gentle, serene acting style that subtly conveys inner turmoil. Following in his family's footsteps as a theater manager, he witnessed both the peak of the troupe's success and its decline as cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) fell into ruin. Huu Chau's character is portrayed as a conscientious manager who cares for the well-being of each member of the troupe. He inspires the young actors, reminding them to uphold the ethics of their profession. Despite struggling to maintain the troupe, he doesn't chase money at any cost.
Against the backdrop of the traditional Vietnamese opera story, the love story of the characters serves as a secondary plotline, adding a romantic touch to the work. Lê Phương and Cao Minh Đạt play Thanh Kim Yến and Phi Khanh, a middle-aged artist couple who fall in love but are forced to separate when the theater troupe faces danger. Bạch Công Khanh and Trúc Mây deliver strong performances as the young lead actors and actresses, whose romance blossoms through shared performances of excerpts from traditional plays. In the supporting role, Hồng Vân provides much laughter with her portrayal of Tư Phượng, a sponsor who funds the theater troupe because she idolizes the lead actor Phi Khanh.
Le Phuong and Cao Minh Dat star together on the big screen for the first time. Photo: Huong Le
Towards the end, the script reveals many weaknesses. The incident that led to the disbandment of the Vien Phuong troupe feels heavily contrived and fails to reflect the decline of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera). The interweaving of multiple storylines makes the film disjointed and drawn-out overall, despite its more than two-hour runtime. The work suffers from flaws in the setting, and the actors' skin tones appear yellowish and unnatural due to excessive special effects.
Mai Nhat
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