HCM CITY— Private film companies are releasing dramas and comedies this summer, as cinemas in HCM City continue to showcase local talent.    

Teenagers are eagerly awaiting Yêu Nữ Siêu Quậy (Devil Girls), produced by Happy Entertainment and released in cinemas on May 11.  

Directed by Nguyễn Ngọc Hùng, the comedy is about a girl who falls in love with a ghost.

In a recent interview with local media, director Hùng said romantic comedies had returned for the summer. “I hope young audiences will learn more about themselves after watching Yêu Nữ Siêu Quậy,” he said.

Hùng used young talents Khả Như, Thuận Nguyễn and Diệu Nhi, graduates of HCM City University of Theatre & Cinematography, to play leading roles.

Young director Robie Trường’s 11 Niềm Hy Vọng (A Football Team) will hit cinemas after failing to be released on Reunification Day on April 30. 

The 90-minute movie is about a young football player played by Nhan Phúc Vinh who works hard to develop his professional career. After facing challenges, he and his team are finally successful.

“11 Niềm Hy Vọng is a song in praise of life, youth and love,” said actor Vinh.

Vinh perfected his role working with players of the Việt Nam National under-23 Football Team, which were runners-up and Fair Play winners at the Asian Football Confederation U23 Championship early this year. 

The film’s producer, Metan Entertainment, invited football stars Lê Huỳnh Đức and Hồng Sơn of the Việt Nam National Football Team in the 1990s to perform in the film to guarantee quality.   

Independent female director Cao Thúy Nhi and her crew hope to achieve financial success with their feature film, Nhắm Mắt Thấy Mùa Hè (Snow in Summer).

The film is a love story about a Vietnamese woman named Hạ and a Japanese man Akira who overcome language and lifestyle barriers.

Hạ travels to Hokkaido to find her missing father and discovers Japan, its culture and lifestyle through Akira. She later falls in love with him.  

Director Nhi and her staff of Vietnamese and Japanese actors spent nearly two years filming. Most scenes were shot in Hokkaido, Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.

“We worked hard in casting, and with dozens of experts in language, costume design and props to perfect our production,” said Nhi, who received financial support for her film project from a Japanese producer.

“Our film is a story about human culture,” she said.  

The film stars young actress Phương Anh Đào as Hạ and Takafumi Akutsu as Akira.

It was in cinemas in Hokkaido last month. It is set to be released in cinemas across Japan late this year.

Both films, 11 Niềm Hy Vọng and Nhắm Mắt Thấy Mùa Hè, will be released this weekend. — VNS