It's no exaggeration to say that Tran Thanh has reshaped the Vietnamese film market in recent years.
Tran Thanh – boastful words or ambition?
Upon receiving the "Film of the Year" award for "Mrs. Nu's House" at the Wechoice Awards 2023 gala, the director Tran Thanh To state frankly: "If I'm going to do something, I have to see it through to the end. I dare to think, I dare to act, and today I dare to accept this award."
Such bold statements, perhaps no one other than Tran Thanh would dare to make. Is it arrogance, or the determination of an ambitious young director?
Tran Thanh is considered one of the most scandal-ridden artists in Vietnamese showbiz. His name is often associated with hasty, uncontrolled, and even outrageous statements. He's also nicknamed Thanh "Cry" because he often can't control his emotions when hosting game shows. He's also known for his boisterous and exaggerated comedic style.
However, when venturing into the film industry, Tran Thanh proved to be extremely shrewd, level-headed, and talented. Before appearing on the big screen, Tran Thanh tested the market with the web drama "Bo Gia" (The Godfather) and achieved tremendous success in terms of its widespread popularity. Across social media, people watched Tran Thanh's film, discussing, praising, and even criticizing it.
Building on his success, Tran Thanh released the film "The Godfather," which immediately became a sensation. Amidst a sluggish Vietnamese film market, "The Godfather" easily grossed 427 billion VND.
Next came "Mrs. Nu's House," which grossed 475 billion VND, and "Mai," which grossed 540 billion VND. Even more remarkably, Tran Thanh was able to introduce "Mai" to 200 theaters in 9 countries in North America and Europe, earning 1 million USD.
To date, it's difficult for any director to break the records that Tran Thanh has set at the Vietnamese box office.
And, even while "Mai" was still a box office hit, Tran Thanh was already working on a new film project. It's safe to say that few in Vietnamese showbiz can compete with the hard work, creativity, and ambition of this director.
Comedian excels at making social dramas.
Right from his debut film, Tran Thanh has created a unique and distinctive filmmaking style.
Speaking to VTC News reporters, director Ngo Huong Giang said: “Tran Thanh’s filmmaking style narrows the scope of social portrayal to the hidden corners of everyday life, in alleyways, street food stalls, or massage parlors. He still uses the same method of ‘feeding moral lessons’ to his ‘country bumpkin’ characters, still employs the witty style of a calculating comedian, and portrays complex psychological developments. Instead of the technologically advanced social exaggeration found in blockbuster films or horror movies, Tran Thanh’s films are a reverse-engineered portrayal of social psychology, focusing on ordinary people with their monotonous lives but full of aspirations.”
According to Mr. Ngo Huong Giang, the lives depicted in Tran Thanh's films are fragmented yet relatable to society. There's a father driving a motorbike taxi in an alley, a woman selling noodle soup, a girl working in a massage parlor… but they all have complex inner lives, full of inner turmoil, and obviously many unfulfilled dreams and aspirations.
Commenting on this director, Mr. Ngo Huong Giang affirmed: "Whether audiences love or hate Tran Thanh, nothing can hide the fact that he is a comedian who has achieved outstanding success in making psychological and social dramas."
Tran Thanh's films: Art or pure entertainment?
Tran Thanh himself has admitted that his name and his works are always associated with controversial topics. Some even jokingly say that Tran Thanh is always caught between two opposing forces: love and hate.
All three of Tran Thanh's films achieved unprecedented box office success in Vietnam. One film was even honored as "Film of the Year." However, there were also many criticisms that Tran Thanh's films were purely for entertainment, nonsensical, or even "toxic." Some even frankly advised the director to abandon his dream of making art films.
Director Ngo Huong Giang affirmed: "Often, films that aim to shape public opinion must possess artistic value. Market films are often bland entertainment, merely a way to mask the 'gap in competence' of the person expressing that opinion. Because once you enter the field of film production, you have entered the world of art."
Art is a multi-layered, multi-meaning pie, often exploited so that one opinion can be used to refute another's opinion or product. I believe that any product that is skillfully crafted, evokes emotions in the audience, leaves them with a lingering feeling, and is something they will always remember, is a quality work of art. With tens of millions of viewers watching Tran Thanh's films, it's obvious that his films are already works of art.”
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