HÀ NỘI — A Spanish film festival opened last night in Hà Nội with the world premiere of Thị Mai, the first Spanish movie to be shot in Việt Nam. Entitled Eye on Spain, the festival includes five films - comedies, dramas and thrillers - reflecting Spain’s cinematographic zest.

Spain ranks fourth in Europe and eighth in the world in terms of cinematic productions.

Thị Mai is a comedy directed by Patricia Ferreira. It is a classic tale of west-meets-east with a hilarious Spanish-Vietnamese twist and a star-studded cast from Spain and Việt Nam. It tells the story of a woman called Carmen.

When Carmen discovers that her late daughter wanted to adopt a Vietnamese child, Carmen does not hesitate to travel to Việt Nam to bring the adopted child back home with her. 

Her two best friends, are each undergoing a crisis of their own, and when they hear of their friend’s crazy plan they jump on the plane with her without thinking. Lost in the bustle of Hà Nội, the three women meet a whole new world of possibilities and two men who, unwittingly, will change their lives forever.

The movie was screened in Spanish with Vietnamese subtitles at the National Cinema Centre with a  presentation by director Ferreira and producer Larry Levene speaking about filming in Hà Nội and Hạ Long Bay.

Other award-winning movies at the festival include Las Ovejas No Pierden El Tre (Sidetracked), Truman,Vivir Es Facil Con Ojos Cerados (Living is Easy with Eyes Closed) and La Caja 507 (Box 507).

The comedy-drama movie Truman has been awarded dozens of national and international prizes since its premiere in Spain in 2015. It will be shown on Friday at 7pm in Spanish with Vietnamese and English subtitles.

Living is Easy With Eye Closed was the big winner at the 2013 Goya Awards, taking six top prizes including best film, best director and best leading actor. It will be shown in Spanish with Vietnamese and French subtitles at 5pm on Saturday.

The Spanish Film Festival is being held by the Spanish Embassy in Hà Nội to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Spain and Việt Nam. Besides the five screenings, the festival will include a reception at the Embassy, a round table discussion between film-makers from the two countries and other activities to strengthen ties with the Vietnamese industry and explore opportunities for future collaboration. — VNS