ĐÀ LẠT —  Vietnamese-American director Victor Vũ is working on a new action film, Lôi Báo (In the Storm), together with his young staff in Đà Lạt City.  

The film features secrets about a superman, played by dancer and rapper Cường Seven, who fights evil and protects the innocent.

“My film is not about a Hollywood superman. It portrays a Vietnamese character, who live simply but works big to keep the country and people safe,” Vũ told local media before the film’s first poster was released last week.  

Vũ worked with his staff, including art director Vincent Wang and dancer- rapper Cường Seven of Hà Nội, who plays the superman, to feature his views in the film.

“I decided to cast Cường, a new face for my leading role, because I believe in his talent,” he said.

After the film’s first images of a hidden man flying in air were released online, Lôi Báo was praised by many viewers.

Vũ’s staff is working in Đà Lạt for their kung-fu scenes. The film’s last scenes will be completed in early March.

Vũ is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University in the US. Lôi Báo is considered the best work of its kind about a superman in Viet Nam.

His first film in Việt Nam, Chuyện Tình Xa Xứ (Passport to Love), was a romantic comedy that won Favourite Film at the 2008 Golden Kite Award given by the Việt Nam Cinematography Association.

The film attracted visual effects director Peter Soto, composer Christopher Wong, costume designer Michelle Ngô and Vietnamese-American actress Kathy Uyên. It was distributed in the US.

His second film, Giao Lộ Định Mệnh (Inferno), released in 2010 and starring dozens of local artists such as Trần Bình Minh and Tăng Bảo Quyên.   

The film is about the work and love of urban Vietnamese youth.

In 2012, his kung fu film Thiên Mệnh Anh Hùng (Blood Letter) won the jury prize at the International Film Festival in Hà Nội.

One year later, his Bí Mật Thảm Đỏ (Scandal), a work about the dark side of show business, received the Golden Kite Prize for best director, presented by the Việt Nam Cinematography Association. Both films were box office records. 

“I have learned a lot about Việt Nam’s history, traditional culture and lifestyle,” said Vũ, adding that he sees his future here.

In 2014, his fourth film Quả Tim Máu (Vengeful Heart), a horror film, starring famous comedian Thái Hòa, earned more than VNĐ24 billion (US$1.1 million) in just three days after release.     

Vũ divides his time between the US and Việt Nam. His Lôi Báo will be released in September. — VNS