Director Victor Vũ spent 80 days building the set and hired 200 actors to recreate life in a 19th-century Northern Vietnamese village in "The Last Wife".
The director said that when reading the novel "Lake of Resentment" (original script by author Hong Thai), he envisioned Cua Ngop village - the main setting of the film - as a small village on the lake's edge, at the foot of the mountains. After many days of surveying, he found the location at Ba Be Lake ( Bac Kan ). According to a representative of the crew, the film crew traveled for more than an hour each day by car, boat, and on foot to reach the filming location.
The design team of 28 people spent nearly 80 days recreating the village. 200 extras participated in the large-scale scenes depicting village life. "I set a criterion that when looking at the monitor screen, the scene had to resemble the archival images and old paintings I referenced," the director said.
A glimpse into a 19th-century village setting in "The Last Wife". Photo: Huy Tran
The team devoted their efforts to the costumes and accessories. Victor Vũ consulted many sources, including the book "Technique du peuple Annamite" (Technique du peuple Annamite), written by Henri Oger in 1908-1909.
The costumes of the three wives in the mandarin's household reflect the personality and fate of each character. The first wife (actress Kim Oanh) wears a long dress in warm tones, portraying the strictness and power within the family. The second wife (Dinh Ngoc Diep) wears a mix of warm and cool colors with elaborate patterns, reflecting her straightforward and carefree nature. The main character – the third wife, Dieu Linh (Kaity Nguyen) – mainly wears light-colored clothing, implying her humble origins.
Victor Vũ nurtured the script for two years before bringing it to the big screen. Unlike his previous work, the director didn't focus heavily on historical or martial arts elements, but instead emphasized cultural aspects. He wanted to tell a romantic, psychological story set in Vietnam during the past, yet still relatable to contemporary viewers. Victor Vũ believes Kaity Nguyễn is perfect for the lead female role – a young, beautiful, and fragile woman with a decisive personality, ready to fight against challenges.
The film revolves around Linh's life as a daughter-in-law in a wealthy family. Living in a prestigious household, known as "the third daughter-in-law," Linh is still treated like a servant by the first wife. Due to her poor background, she is insulted and called lowly, her body covered in bruises from beatings. When Linh reunites with Nhân (Thuận Nguyễn) – her childhood friend – they have a secret affair, which sets the stage for a series of tragedies that follow. The film also features performances by artists Quang Thắng, Quốc Huy, and Anh Dũng.
Victor Vũ, born in 1975, belongs to the wave of Vietnamese expatriate directors returning to Vietnam to make films in the early 21st century, making his mark with films such as "Bride Wars," "Scandal," and "I See Yellow Flowers on Green Grass." In 2019, "Mắt Biếc" (Blue Eyes) – adapted from a novel by Nguyễn Nhật Ánh and directed by Victor Vũ – grossed 180 billion VND, ranking among the top 5 highest-grossing Vietnamese films of all time.
Hoang Ha (According to vnexpress.net)
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