Why are audiences rushing to "throw bricks and stones" before even watching?

"Southern Land" is a classic television series about the lives of people in Southern Vietnam during the resistance against the French. In 2023, director Nguyen Quang Dung released the film project " Southern Forest Land" with a star-studded cast: Hao Khang, Tran Thanh, Mai Tai Phen, Tuan Tran, Hua Vi Van...

The film's plot revolves around the journey of a young boy named An, played by Hao Khang, in search of his father. However, the person who has attracted the audience's attention since the film's character designs were released is Tran Thanh.

The actor, born in 1987, plays the role of Uncle Ba Phi - a talkative and kind-hearted man considered an icon of the people of Southern Vietnam.

The portrayal of the character Uncle Ba Phi by artist Mac Can in the television series "Southern Land" has left a deep impression on viewers.

Notably, as soon as the film's production team announced the cast list, Tran Thanh was questioned by many about his acting ability in the role of Uncle Ba Phi. Furthermore, when the character's appearance was revealed to the audience, the backlash intensified.

In fact, the film hasn't even been widely released to the public yet, but many people have already criticized it, even calling for a boycott, simply because of Tran Thanh.

So what's the reason the actor is facing so much criticism even before the film's release? First, it's worth mentioning that " Southern Land, " with its iconic characters like Uncle Ba Phi and Vo Tong, has already become an unshakeable icon in the hearts of audiences.

Tran Thanh's portrayal of Uncle Ba Phi in "Southern Forest Land".

Many generations of viewers, from the 60s, 70s, to the 90s, love this film, even though it was first broadcast nearly 30 years ago. It's understandable that viewers compare it to and have doubts about the remake titled "Southern Forest Land ."

Similarly, the character of Uncle Ba Phi, portrayed by artist Mac Can in the television version of "Southern Land," left a profound impression on the public. This poses a significant challenge for actors assigned to play Uncle Ba Phi in subsequent versions of the film. They will have to accept comparisons and the skeptical, even opposing, attitude of the audience from the moment they take on the role.

In fact, the audience had every reason to be skeptical of Tran Thanh. Because in the original story, Uncle Ba Phi is a middle-aged man in his 50s, while the actor, born in 1987, is not yet 40 years old.

Tran Thanh struggled to convince the audience with his portrayal of Uncle Ba Phi.

The age difference not only made Tran Thanh's portrayal of Uncle Ba Phi unconvincing to the audience, but also further reinforced the audience's perception of the disparity in life experience and performance style between the actor and the character.

People love the film and the character of Uncle Ba Phi so much that it's difficult for them to accept their "idol" being "reimagined" or portrayed from a different perspective. Therefore, it's not surprising that a large segment of the audience has a tendency to compare and doubt the film "Southern Forest Land" in general and Tran Thanh's portrayal of Uncle Ba Phi in particular.

In particular, the information that Tran Thanh is co-producer, co-creative director, actor, co-editor, and script consultant for the film " Southern Forest Land" further fuels public skepticism about the director's impartiality in choosing him for the role of Uncle Ba Phi.

Tran Thanh is facing criticism even before the film is released.

Besides the reasons mentioned above, the backlash against Tran Thanh also stems from the actor himself. For a long time now, Tran Thanh has been repeatedly involved in controversies regarding his statements about the position of artists in their relationship with the public.

Audiences haven't forgotten Trấn Thành's statements, which were considered condescending and boastful, such as: "If you find the comedy silly, turn off the TV," and "The life of an artist is hard to swallow"... It's undeniable that in the eyes of the public recently, the actor's image has been significantly tarnished.

This creates a rebellious and exclusionary mindset among the public. Therefore, any product by Tran Thanh will inevitably raise questions or even lead to boycotts from the audience.

Given the recent controversies surrounding his statements, Tran Thanh's products have sparked skepticism among audiences.

Amidst the controversy surrounding whether Tran Thanh was "worthy" of the role of Uncle Ba Phi, director Nguyen Quang Dung had to speak out to affirm Tran Thanh's acting ability and his own impartiality in choosing the 1987-born actor for this challenging role:

"The character of Uncle Ba Phi is very talkative, telling funny stories, some that people believe to be true, some that people think are not, but each story has its own meaning and philosophy. I think Thanh is a very suitable person for that role."

Regarding the age difference between the actors and the real-life characters, director Nguyen Quang Dung emphasized:

"When watching a film, the audience will also see that there are highlights where they need talented actors, not just actors with suitable appearances. Appearance can be created, but for me, the spirit is what's important. And I think the spirit of Tran Thanh and Uncle Ba Phi have some things in common."

The film will be released to audiences on October 13, 2023.

Regarding Tran Thanh, at the premiere of the film " Southern Forest Land" in Ho Chi Minh City, he appeared quite calm about the audience's reactions , both positive and negative. The actor said: "It's already great that you're interested in watching. The worst thing is when a film comes out and no one talks about it, but if there is discussion, that's great. Of course, there will be people who like it and people who don't."

"This job is like being a daughter-in-law to a hundred families. When a film comes out, everyone has the right to give their opinion, and if they're right, we'll learn from it."

The audience's criticisms of Tran Thanh's performance in the film "Southern Forest Land" were somewhat subjective. Perhaps only after the film is widely released will the public have enough grounds to comment on the actor's performance and accurately answer the question: Did Tran Thanh portray the character Ba Phi well?

An Nguyen

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