Vietnamese films released in November: Efforts to make an impression.

Unlike the hype surrounding "I See Yellow Flowers on Green Grass" or "The Ghost of the Vương Family," the 5 Vietnamese films released in November, while relatively quiet, were mostly highly praised for the serious investment of the film crews.

Quietly reaching the audience.

Opening the month of November is "12 Zodiac Signs: Paving the Way for Love," directed by Vu Ngoc Phuong, who successfully tapped into the psychology of young people by exploring the stories related to zodiac signs and the friendships and love relationships between the three main characters: Huy (B Tran), My (Jun Vu), and Chi (Quynh Chi). While not necessarily an outstanding film, "12 Zodiac Signs: Paving the Way for Love" has received quite positive reviews for its coherent script, consistent cast, dialogue, soundtrack, and costumes, all of which create a good synergy. The film can be likened to a simple yet sweet and profound love song. It was released to audiences on November 11th.

While both films deal with the theme of youth, "Love," director Viet Max's debut film, attracts viewers because it revolves around the sensitive topic of lesbianism, a subject rarely explored by directors. Based on the famous Thai film about lesbians, "The Love of Siam" (2007), "Love" tells the story of two best friends, Nhi and Tú (played by Thanh Mỹ and Thiên Kim as children, and Chi Pu and Gil Lê as adults). They were inseparable throughout their childhood, but after various events, they lost each other, especially when Nhi left her boyfriend, Hoàng (Bê Trần). Upon reuniting, the two develop feelings for each other that go beyond friendship. Chi Pu and Gil Lê delivered performances that touched the audience's emotions with their subtle and heartfelt acting, particularly in scenes depicting inner turmoil. Despite being a film about lesbianism, "Love" stands out by choosing a gentle approach, avoiding exaggeration or dramatizing the characters' fates, thanks to a solid script, even without many surprising plot twists. Love, like a breath of fresh air in the Vietnamese LGBTQ+ film genre, promises to bring tears to audiences' eyes when it premieres on November 20th.

A standout film at the November film festival is the historical drama "My Beautiful Woman" (directed by Dinh Thai Thuy), based on a novel by Van Le, starring Quach Ngoc Ngoan, Trieu Thi Ha, Kim Hien, Ha Viet Dung, and others. Set in the 17th century during the Trinh-Nguyen civil war, the film depicts a turbulent period of history with insidious and mysterious conspiracies within the royal court among the concubines close to the emperor. Despite its fresh and accessible approach, "My Beautiful Woman" received mixed reviews even before its release, regarding the overuse of explicit scenes and the sloppy, careless costumes. After the premiere, the film also revealed several shortcomings: tasteless intimate scenes, a lack of climax, monotonous camera angles, and unengaging dialogue. The film premiered on November 13th.

"Beauty" - a highly anticipated historical drama, will be released in November. Photo: DPCC

The fourth Vietnamese film to be released this November is "Super Thief," marking the return of director Ham Tran and featuring actors such as Ngo Thanh Van, Nhung Kate, Petey, Suboi, and Thanh My. The film is quite unique, revolving around the story of the hacker Ghost – who created software capable of locking computer hard drives and is constantly pursued by Da Da's detective team. "Super Thief" is scheduled to premiere on November 19th. Another Vietnamese film to be released this November is "League of Legends," directed by the duo Dinh Thai Thuy and Pham Van Hai, scheduled for release on November 27th.

Foreign films are still a hit.

Despite the summer movie season being over, November saw a massive influx of popular foreign films into Vietnamese cinemas. Most notably, Spectre – the 24th installment in the James Bond series, with an investment exceeding $250 million – is currently dominating box offices worldwide. The confrontation between James Bond (Daniel Craig) and the Oberhauser-led Spectre corporation (Christoph Waltz), while receiving mixed reviews, remains the most widely shown film in Vietnamese theaters from November 6th to 11th. At its peak, some CGV and Galaxy cinema chains had 25 to 30 screenings per day.

After Spectre, all attention will be focused on The Hunger Games - Mockingjay - Part II, the final installment in the hit film series that has grossed over $2.3 billion. In this part, actors Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Julianne Moore, and others promise to continue leading audiences on a mission to fight against the corrupt Panem government led by President Snow (Donald Sutherland). With a production budget of $125 million, the film has received positive reviews from many critics, with fairly high scores. Mockingjay Part II is scheduled for release on November 20th. Another noteworthy film in November is The Good Dinosaur, marking 20 years of Pixar's journey of friendship. Scheduled for release on November 20th, The Good Dinosaur will transport audiences to the fantastical world of Arlo the dinosaur on a wondrous journey.

This November, cinemas are also buzzing with many films from the US, South Korea, and other countries, such as: Secret in Their Eyes, Heist, Macbeth, The Chosen: Forbidden Cave, Knock Knock, The Advocate: A Missing Body... While audiences are increasingly supporting domestic films, despite facing numerous foreign blockbusters, Vietnamese films released in November still have many opportunities to make their mark at the box office.

According to SGGP