Poster of Trưng Vương ( She-Kings), a new film project on Vietnamese history by producer and movie star Trương Ngọc Ánh. ( Photo courtesy of TNA)

HCM CITY Movie star and producer Trương Ngọc Ánh has launched her new film project on national heroines Hai Bà Trưng (Two Trưng Sisters) in HCM City.

The film, Trưng Vương (She-Kings), is based on the life of Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị, the two sisters who led the first uprising against Han Chinese occupation in the first century, around 2,000 years ago.

In AD 40, they led their troops on elephants to repel Chinese invasions. Their victory brought liberation for Đại Việt (or Great Việt, an old name for Việt Nam) after 247 years of foreign domination.

Trưng Vương includes historic events and famous heroines such as Bát Nàn, Ả Chạ, Hồ Đề who were under the Trưng sisters. 

The filming will begin next year and casting later this year.

Producer Ánh, owner of TNA Entertainments, a film and entertainment agency, has worked with Vietnamese-Australian film producer Janet Ngo.

Ánh and her staff have also consulted cultural researchers and historians in Hà Nội and HCM City.

Movie star and film director Trương Ngọc Ánh and Vietnamese-Australian Janet Ngô, producers of Trưng Vương (She- Kings), a new film project on Vietnamese history launched in HCM City.  (Photo courtesy of TNA)

Veteran artists and fashion designers will be invited to work on the production.

“Janet and I love to feature Vietnamese history on film. We believe our film, Trưng Vương, will be successful at the box office,” Ánh said.   

Ánh began her career in 1995. She performed in dozens of films and TV series, including international and national prize-winning productions Áo Lụa Hà Đông (The White Silk Dress) and Sài Gòn Nhật Thực (Saigon Eclipse).

In 2014, she played a leading role in Hương Ga (Rise), a production directed by Vietnamese-Canadian director Cường Ngô.

The film helped Ánh bring home the Golden Kite for Best Actress at the annual 2014 Golden Kite Awards, presented by the Việt Nam Cinematography Association in HCM City.

Ánh has produced four films, including the blockbuster Sắc Đẹp Ngàn Cân (The Beauty), a Vietnamese version of Korean film 200-Pound Beauty.

“In movies, I always try my best to show strength and ability, not just beauty,“ the 44-year-old said in an interview with local media.— VNS