Hai Phuong (Furie) starring Ngo Thanh Van will compete at the 14th Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF) from March 8-17.

A scene from Hai Phuong (Furie) starring Ngo Thanh Van (Source: Photo
courtesy of Studio68)
The film
tracks the journey of a mother who saves her daughter from human traffickers.
The film will be premiered nationwide on February 22 with
English subtitles.
It’s one of 14 films competing for the Grand Prix and
Most Promising Talent Award, according to information released on the official
website of the festival.
Other entries in this section include The Girl in the
Orange Dress (Philippines), Our Body (Republic of Korea), Asandhimitta (Sri
Lanka), The Lady Improper (Hong Kong (China)) and Tanabata’s Wife
(Philippines).
Directed by Le Van Kiet, the film is likely to be Van’s
last action film.
Van is known for her roles in The Rebel, Clash and The
Tailor. She also participated in Rouge, a television series produced by MTV
Asia and MediaCorp Singapore, the Hollywood film The Last Jedi and the Netflix
film Bright.
At the age of 40, Van said she is tired of action scenes
and wants to give a chance to younger actors to shine.
The festival will feature 51 films from across the
continent. It aims to create a chance for Asian filmmakers to exchange and
promote the top films from the region.
The OAFF also contributes to the development of cinema
and the economy of Osaka in particular and Japan in general. It connects people
from the fields of culture, art, education, tourism and business from across
Asia.
Last year,Co Ba
Sai Gon(The Tailor) also starring Van was selected for the competition
section but fell short.
Vietnamese cinema also has another representative at the
OAFF.
Hon Papa Da Con Gai(Daddy Issues) by Japanese director Ken Ochiai and
Vietnamese producer Charlie Nguyen, will close the OAFF.
It reveals troubles between a father named Hai and his
daughter named Chau when a magical event happens and they switch bodies. They
try to understand each other and learn to live together in harmony.
The film stars Thai Hoa, a "comedy king” of Vietnamese
cinema who is known for Let Hoi Decide and Saigon Bodyguards and Kaity Nguyen,
a young talent who debuted in the film Jailbait. Ochiai is known widely among
Vietnamese audiences as he directed Saigon Bodyguards starring Kim Ly and Thai
Hoa.
Source: NDO
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
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The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
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