What did Phan Mạnh Quỳnh say about his first foray into film?

MovieOnce upon a time there was a love story.A trailer over two minutes long has just been released, revealing the full story of friendship and love between the three characters Vinh, Miền, and Phúc.

It's not just the music that's impressive through the song.There was a love story.The film's trailer also surprisingly revealed Phan Mạnh Quỳnh's performance as the writer Nguyễn Nhật Ánh. The news of Phan Mạnh Quỳnh's first feature film has generated much anticipation from the audience.

The trailer opens with Phan Mạnh Quỳnh's narration:"Love is not a battle, and the heart is not a fortress. It is not something to be fought over, nor can it be fought over. Only love can convince love."The trailer then guides the audience from the beginning of the journey of friendship between the main characters.

While the first half of the trailer has a lighthearted feel, the second half is intense with many unsettling plot twists, like a storm brewing during the coming-of-age years of the three main characters. Particularly noteworthy is the steamy scene between Phuc and Mien, which takes place on a rainy night in a cornfield.

The dialogue that concludes the trailer by Phan Mạnh Quỳnh leaves viewers pondering the prospects of this tragic love story:"Sacrifice is merely a quality of love, perhaps even the noblest quality. But in love, one can sacrifice everything except the one they love."

As the film's score composer, Phan Mạnh Quỳnh shared that this is a song he wrote specifically for the film.“Initially, I thought about it a lot because I had already written music for 'Mắt Biếc' (Blue Eyes). Then, I read 'Ngày xưa có một chuyện tình' (Once Upon a Time There Was a Love Story) and found a way to explore this story completely differently from the previous film. This song has a perspective and a story that I haven't written about in any song before.”, he said.

Speaking about his first foray into acting, Phan Manh Quynh revealed:“When the director offered me the role of writer Nguyen Nhat Anh, I felt very emotional. Mr. Anh is an idol in literature and also a companion during my youth. I also looked up clips of him answering interviews and saw that he was shy and reserved in front of crowds, so I felt a sense of empathy. Taking on this role is a beautiful memory in my life.”

As for author Nguyen Nhat Anh, he also wittily commented on Phan Manh Quynh's interesting role:"Phan Mạnh Quỳnh and I are equally handsome!"

Director Trinh Dinh Le Minh stated that the biggest difference between the film version and the original is the supporting cast surrounding the main characters. The production team changed some of the supporting characters to suit the film's storytelling style.

The production team also added more information about the film.Once upon a time there was a love story.The film will explore "intimate scenes" involving the characters. According to the director, the original work is a rare book by Nguyen Nhat Anh that features intimate moments between the main characters.

When adapted into a film, these intimate scenes play a crucial role, representing the characters' decisions and choices on their journey to adulthood, so the production team wanted to convey this to the audience.

Author Nguyen Nhat Anh also commented that the main actors were well-suited to their characters in the story. However, he affirmed that he did not interfere with the screenwriter's or director's choices because everyone has a different vision of the story.

Once upon a time there was a love story.Directed by Trinh Dinh Le Minh, the film revolves around the story of friendship and love between two boys and one girl from childhood to adulthood, as they face the challenges of fate. The three characters, Vinh, Mien, and Phuc, fall in love together, embark on their lives together, stumble, and experience various turning points in their lives. The film features a cast of young actors such as Avin Lu, Ngoc Xuan, Do Nhat Hoang, Pham Thanh Tu, Rima Thanh Vy, etc.

The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by writer Nguyen Nhat Anh, first published in 2016 and reprinted 20 times with different book cover versions to date.

This work has received many positive reviews and is loved by readers nationwide thanks to its gentle, romantic story that is imbued with profound reflections on love and life.

Once upon a time there was a love story.There will be early screenings on October 25th and nationwide release on November 1st, 2024.

Ngoc Thanh