The first poster of Kiều, a new film based on the 18th-century Vietnamese epic poem Truyện Kiều (The Tale of Kiều) by Nguyễn Du, has been released. The film is in post-production and will be in cinemas next March. — Photo courtesy of the producer

HCM CITY — The pre-teaser of Kiều, a new film based on the 18th-century Vietnamese epic poem Truyện Kiều (The Tale of Kiều), has been released on YouTube.

The work attracted nearly 20,000 views last weekend.

The film is in post-production and will be in cinemas next March.

Kiều portrays Thúy Kiều, a talented young woman who was forced to sacrifice herself to save her family, and her love for Từ Hải, leader of a rebel gang. 

It stars Trình Thị Mỹ Duyên, Miss Áo Dài (Vietnamese traditional dress) at 2017 Miss Universe Việt Nam, as Thúy Kiều.

Duyên was chosen over many candidates to play the role.

The film’s producer, Mai Thu Huyền, decided to choose Duyên, a new face because she wanted “the audience to think she is Thúy Kiều,” said Huyền, in a recent interview with Thể Thao & Văn Hóa (Sports & Culture).

“I had to think a lot about the casting of Thúy Kiều. The casting was held in Hà Nội, Huế and HCM City with thousands of girls.”

“I wondered whether an established actress or a new face was suitable for the character,” she said.

Actress Duyên spent three months reading books and documents on Truyện Kiều before shooting. She had to learn dancing, singing and playing đàn nguyệt (Vietnamese two-chord banjo). 

Film actress Trình Thị Mỹ Duyên, Miss Áo Dài (Vietnamese traditional dress) at 2017 Miss Universe Việt Nam, plays the leading role Thúy Kiều. She passed many candidates to win the role. — Photo courtesy of the producer

 Truyện Kiều, written by Nguyễn Du, is recognised as one of the country’s top literary works. 

The work has more than 3,200 verses featuring Thúy Kiều, her challenges and sufferings over 15 years.

Thúy Kiều and her life are still fresh in the mind of Vietnamese people of different generations.

“It is true that a movie cannot be like a television series to tell everything that happened in her life,” producer Huyền said. 

“Therefore, I chose one period in her life that I think has the most attractive elements to put in the movie.”

Huyền and her staff worked hard on the soundtrack and costume design. Vietnamese music and songs are used in the film. 

Film crews travelled to 20 provinces and cities to look for backdrops in the central provinces of Thừa Thiên-Huế, Quảng Bình and Quảng Trị, as well as the mountainous northern provinces of Cao Bằng and Phú Thọ. HCM City.

“Some scenes in the movie were set up because we could not find the right places,” said Huyền, adding that she faced difficulties to complete a film adapted from a classic.

“This year is the 200th death anniversary of great poet Nguyễn Du and I don’t want to miss the chance,” she said. 

Huyền began her career as a TV series actress in 1995 when she was at university. She has performed in many drama plays, TV shows and movies. 

She works as a TV producer and a filmmaker, and owns Tincom Media, an entertainment agency for TV shows, films and events. — VNS