HÀ NỘI — Tết or Lunar New Year Festival is the golden time for Vietnamese cinema, as new films compete fiercely for the holiday crowds.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, which falls on February 12 this year, four movies will debut cinema nationwide, including Trạng Tí Phiêu Lưu Ký (Diary of Child Master’s Adventure), Gái Già Lắm Chiêu V: Những Cuộc Đời Vương Giả (The Tricky Ladies V: Luxurious Lives), Lật Mặt: 48H (Face-off: 48 Hours), and Bố Già (Godfather).

Without Hollywood movies to compete against due to the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic movies are expected to be smash hits.

(Left-right) A scene from movie Gái Già Lắm Chiêu V: Những Cuộc Đời Vương Giả (The Tricky Ladies V: Luxurious Lives) starring Kaity Nguyễn, Lê Khanh, and Hồng Vân. Photo courtesy of MAR6 Pictures

“The quality of these have been confirmed as they are sequels of other previous hit movies [Tricky Ladies, Face-off] or made by well-known producers,” said Nguyễn Thị Mai Hoa, Managing Director of Galaxy Cinema.

While Lật Mặt: 48H is the fifth film in the series Lật Mặt by singer and movie director Lý Hải, Gái Già Lắm Chiêu V: Những Cuộc Đời Vương Giả is also the fifth edtion of the chick flick series by director duo Bảo Nhân and Nam Cito.  

According to movie critic Ngọc Nick M, Lật Mặt: 48H is fit for the taste of moviegoers in the Mekong Delta region as the movie combines all the elements that can satisfy any audience including comedy, adventure, action and horror.

“In fact, all these elements have proved their success in previous parts of the series. The series also about the family’s popular matters so it can be accepted easily by the audience,” he said.

Another element that can ensure success for Lật Mặt: 48H this year is that the movie stars top actors and comedians like Mạc Văn Khoa, Trường Giang and Kiều Minh Tuấn.  

As part of the chick flick series Gái Già Lắm Chiêu, the fifth edition Những Cuộc Đời Vương Giả is aimed at female cinemagoers. Since the debut of the series in 2016, the producers have revealed each new edition at Tết. Last year, Gái Già Lắm Chiêu 3  dominated the Vietnamese box office with revenue of VNĐ165 billion (US$7.1 million).

Trấn Thành (right) seen in a scene of movie Bố Già (Godfather). Photo courtesy of Galaxy Studio

According to movie experts, the success of the films was thanks to the elaborate, lavish, beautiful arrangement in every scene and fashionable costumes of the cast. In addition, A-list actresses including Lê Khanh, Hồng Vân, and Ninh Dương Lan Ngọc help remind the audience about the true value of a family behind the lavish appearance.

Starring top actor Trấn Thành, the movie Bố Già was developed from the web drama of the same name first broadcast on YouTube.

Featuring five episodes with an average number of viewers of about 28.4 million, the producer expects a large audience will turn out for the show on the big screen.

In the online version, Trấn Thành plays a grumpy, conservative father who loves his family deeply, but in the movie, he is an easy-going father and a caring neighbour. However, both editions focus on the overall kindness of the main character.

The target audience of Trạng Tí Phiêu Lưu Ký is the readers of the children book series Thần Đồng Đất Việt (Vietnamese Prodigies). Photo courtesy of Studio 68

Scriptwriter Trần Khánh Hòa believes Bố Già will be a big hit because the movie highlights family love that suits viewers of different ages and the gathering spirit of Tết.

Although set for release initially on April 30, 2020, both movies Lật Mặt: 48H and Trạng Tí Phiêu Lưu Ký have been postponed several times due to the pandemic.  

The target audience of the Trạng Tí Phiêu Lưu Ký is the readers of the children's book series Thần Đồng Đất Việt (Vietnamese Prodigies), especially those born in the 1980s and 1990s. VNS