Covid-19 test kit price gouging scandal on film

Image from the movie “Brain Fight”. Photo: VFC

Timeliness of the film

According to Mr. Do Thanh Hai - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Television, the idea of ​​making "Brain Battle" came about in September 2021 with the quickness of the filmmakers to grasp the hot issues of social reality. And as soon as the script was approved, a series of news stories continued to be updated about corruption cases, the case of price gouging of Covid-19 test kits and the screenwriters added and edited. However, this is a feature film, so it is not a reflection of press information but goes deep into exploiting human fate, analyzing criminal psychology, clarifying the hidden secrets that lead to mistakes... and depicting the fierce struggle of police officers in solving the case.

Unlike "Sinh Tu" which focuses on the topic of abuse of power to create group interests, "Dau Tuong" is a story about the fight against those with money, power, position, and knowledge who have plots and tricks from avoiding judgment to putting pressure on the investigation agency.

The story unfolded when Khai Tuan Company was suspected of colluding and bribing officials in the industry to raise the price of Covid-19 test kits. Vu - a young economic police officer of Dong Binh province and his teammates were constantly under pressure, from the case of Khai Tuan Company raising the price of test kits, "kicking back" huge commissions from leaders, to the Gia Thinh smuggling case whose backing did not stop at just a branch head in a ministry or industry.

The deeper Vu's group got into the cases, the more surprised they were by the sophisticated connections, by the "devil" alliances of interests that included not only people in power and businesses, but also law enforcement officers. They took advantage of power, relationships, policies and strategies to create a solid barrier before law enforcement agencies. In that fierce battle, besides people like Vu, like Phong... who stood firm, there were also cases of people lacking courage who collapsed before money...

Do familiar names "guarantee" the film's success?

“Brain Battle” is directed by Meritorious Artist Danh Dung - a name that is not unfamiliar to Vietnamese TV drama fans through very “hot” family-themed films such as “Come Home, My Child”, “The Taste of Love”, as well as some political films such as “When the Birds Return”, “The Judge”.

Among the participating actors, the participation of People's Artist Trung Anh, who is affectionately called "the national father" by many audiences (after "Come home, my son") with a new role as Lieutenant Colonel Tran Giang, a calm, profound and extremely quick-witted person in solving cases. People's Artist Trung Anh had to shave his beard and cut his hair short to ensure compliance with the police officer regulations to play the role of Tran Giang, and made a lot of effort for a new role. Actor Thanh Son plays Captain Vu, an economic police officer who is more focused on intelligence than his previous role as a "criminal police officer".

In addition, other faces such as: Doan Quoc Dam, Vinh Xuong, Luong Thu Trang, Tu Oanh, Nguyet Hang, Anh Tuan, Xuan Phuc... and especially Meritorious Artist Mai Nguyen with a deep face, full of schemes in the role of Mr. Phat - Chairman of Dong Binh province, a proud and power-hungry person, who once directed the investigation agency PC03 Dong Binh to consider in solving the case, not to affect the economic development plan of the province - causing many difficulties for Vu and his teammates.

“Brain Battle” and the Confidence of the Filmmaker

The filmmakers of “Brain Fight”, especially director Danh Dung, are usually very reserved in their words but secretly confident that the film will attract audiences. “Brain Fight” is a mind-boggling battle between those who have power, money, and are full of tricks and tricks to exploit policies and mechanisms to benefit themselves and their interest groups, and the economic police officers - with steadfast courage and courage, daring to confront power, overcoming threats to their own lives and their families. Sophisticated tricks, secret arrangements and all in a dense spider web without knowing who is the “final boss” in the trillion-dollar economic super-majors.

“Mind Battle” reflects the breath of the times, especially the fight against corruption and the increasingly difficult-to-identify manifestations of interest groups...

With the advice and coordination of the Department of Investigation Police on Corruption, Economic Crimes, and Smuggling (C03), the filmmakers hope that “Brain Fight” will meet the professional requirements. In addition, “Brain Fight” with many settings spanning many local areas, from mountainous areas, borders to coastal areas… with large scenes of chasing and suppressing smuggling criminals mobilizing hundreds of soldiers, specialized equipment… (DOP Vu Trung Kien) hopes to bring excitement to the audience.