Socialist Republic of Vietnam

The success of the moralistic but titillating Gai Nhay (Bar Girls), which has already racked up the equivalent of US$200,000 at the box office, is causing HCM City movie moguls to take a long hard look at their attitudes towards film making.

They’re realising that if they want to fill seats, their films need to be entertaining.

Bar Girls’ director Le Hoang is determined to push the local film industry to new levels by producing further films that people want to watch.

"New trends are needed to improve the country’s movies," he said.

Small audiences during Viet Nam’s economic down-turn could be blamed on a flood of dull or overly serious films that deterred younger audiences, he said.

He accuses such movies of having impeded the progress of Vietnamese cinema.

"I want to change my own direction to create films that lure audiences, particularly young people. We can’t fully develop the film industry without producing hit movies," he said, in response to one critic’s accusation that Bar Girls is low quality in comparison with his previous offerings.

Young cameraman Vuong Tuan Hung agrees with Hoang; "I love Hoang’s Bar Girls. It reflects the real lives of some young people in modern life. Through the movie, young people see themselves and learn realistic lessons."

Hung said that encouraging film makers to produce entertaining and commercial films is the best way to support local cinema.

Despite limited State funds for the film industry, producers need to be responsible for revitalising the industry, he said.

"State-owned film companies receive billions of dong from the Sate fund every year, but the money is still not enough.

"The important thing is to change our approach towards producing movies. They should be based on interesting plots and good acting.

The only answer to the problem is to show films that audiences want to see," he said.

The director of the Ministry of Culture and Information’s Cinematography Department, Nguyen Phuc Thanh believes the future of the film industry lies in the hands of talented scriptwriters, directors and cameramen.

"We aim to provide better conditions for young film makers to produce quality movies to satisfy young fans," Thanh said.

Le Duc Tien from HCM City’s Giai Phong (Liberation) Film Company has a similar attitude. He says his company will produce more entertaining movies this year, written and directed by well-known names including Nguyen Quang Sang, Nguyen Manh Tuan and Le Hoang.

He’s not really interested in satisfying young cinema goers, but in making money, he said.

For some directors the switch to entertaining movies doesn’t seem like such a good idea. "To solve our problems, we need to look at longer term solutions, " said the director of the Viet Nam Film Company, Nguyen Van Nam.

The head of the country’s biggest film company expressed concern that movies like Bar Girls are not the best solution to the problems faced by the film industry.

"We need to pay attention to serious movies to attract audiences rather than blindly following the temporary tastes of the audience," he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture and Information said it’s creating new incentives to encourage the national film industry. — VNS, March 18, 2003