The theater troupe actors in the movie "Light of Light" had to carry rented rice and polish tables and chairs to make a living, through the acting of artists Huu Chau and Le Phuong.
* The article reveals part of the movie's content
Trailer for the movie "Bright Lights". Video: MegaGS
Director Hoang Tuan Cuong's work hit theaters on March 22, more than a month after rescheduling its release date for the Lunar New Year. The film is set in 3 - a period when many Western Cai Luong troupes began to disband, and Mr. Bau's (Huu Chau) Vien Phuong troupe also struggled with the life of "river market rice water". From an ancient singing troupe, to suit their tastes, they agreed to become a vaudeville troupe, performing operas interspersed with circus and comedy performances.
The script spends most of its time focusing on the lives of singers. In one scene, the Boss lifted the velvet curtain to look out at the audience seats, suppressing a sigh when he saw that there were only a few people watching outside. They were not allowed to perform on large stages and luxurious theaters like in their heyday, but had to wander around riverbanks and temples. The actors sang while fearing a power outage, a constant worry on their faces.
The story of Vien Phuong troupe was inspired by the Southern Cai Luong scene in the early 1990s. Photo: Huong Le
The pressure of food, clothing, and money weighs heavily on the shoulders of artists as they have to eat every meal. Leaving the stage, during the day, young actor Canh Thanh (Bach Cong Khanh) carries rice for hire, and main actress Kim Yen (Le Phuong) polishes tables and chairs to earn extra income. The troupe also faces the risk of disbanding when it falls into the sights of protection gangs if it does not "share the cost". The director did not dramatize the fate of the characters but interspersed many details and lines filled with self-satisfaction, thereby evoking sad laughter.
Huu Chau plays the role of a theater troupe owner who has spent his whole life agonizing over succeeding his family's business. Image: Huong Le
Among the cast, Huu Chau stands out with his gentle, calm acting style that hides torment. Following the family business to become an impresario, he witnessed the troupe's most popular period and its decline when Cai Luong declined. Huu Chau's character is described as a caring boss who takes care of the lives of each member of the group. He passed on "fire" to young actors, reminding them to maintain their professional ethics. Even though he had to manage to maintain the theater group, he did not chase money at all costs.
On the background of the Cai Luong story, the characters' love is a secondary thread, adding a romantic color to the work. Le Phuong - Cao Minh Dat play Thanh Kim Yen - Phi Khanh, a middle-aged artist couple who love each other but are forced to separate when the troupe falls into danger. Bach Cong Khanh – Truc May filled their shoulders when they transformed into a young couple, forming a relationship through co-starring in ancient opera excerpts. In the supporting line, Hong Van created a lot of laughter as Tu Phuong, the sponsor who poured money into the troupe because of her idol, Phi Khanh.
Le Phuong and Cao Minh Dat are pairing for the first time on the big screen. Image: Huong Le
Towards the end, the script reveals many weaknesses. The event that caused the Vien Phuong troupe to disband was heavily orchestrated and did not reflect the decline of Cai Luong art. The intertwining of many stories makes the film overall fragmentary and lengthy compared to its more than two hour duration. The work had errors in the setting, the actor's skin color was yellow and unnatural due to over-correction of the effects.
Mai Nhat
