The dividing line: Hong Diem and Manh Truong in a new political drama.
The film "The Dividing Line" explores the fight against corruption and vested interests, marking the return of the duo Mạnh Trường and Hồng Diễm in completely new roles.
The political drama series "The Dividing Line" officially aired on VTV1 from October 27th, promising a gritty and realistic perspective on the fight against corruption and negative practices in modern society. The work is a collaborative production between the Vietnam Film Center (VFC) and the Supreme People's Procuracy.
By exploring current events, "The Dividing Line" is expected to break free from the dry mold often seen in political dramas, touching upon complex stories about the boundaries between good and evil, justice and self-interest.
Context and dramatic boundaries
The story of "The Dividing Line" takes place in Viet Dong province during the period of administrative mergers and streamlining. This was a sensitive time, posing many challenges for leaders such as Party Secretary Tran Son, Chairman Van Thuy, and Deputy Party Secretary Dinh Sach.
The main conflict stemmed from the Trinh Tam apartment project, a construction once considered a symbol of development but which exposed numerous serious violations. The delay in issuing land ownership certificates and the subsequent adjustments to the planning led to a series of officials being dragged into a spiral of corruption, from Trinh Van Khac (Deputy Director of the Department of Construction) to Pham Ngoc Trien (Chief of the Provincial People's Committee Office).
Bui Hang Thu (Deputy Director of the Provincial People's Procuracy) was the person directly supervising the case. The deeper she and her colleagues delved into the investigation, the more complex the truth became, revealing that even those in positions of power could be entangled in legal troubles. She herself faced immense pressure, confronted with the choice between stopping to protect her career or pursuing the case to the end to uphold justice.
The cast and their transformation in their roles.
"The Dividing Line" brings together a cast of talented actors under the direction of director and Meritorious Artist Mai Hien. Many familiar names will have different transformations compared to their previous roles.
Hong Diem plays Bui Hang Thu, a serious, decisive, and upright Deputy Director. The actress shared that this was a big challenge as she had to portray a strong demeanor and use highly specialized dialogue, quite different from her previous roles on family themes.
Meanwhile, Mạnh Trường plays Phạm Ngọc Triển, a skillful, quick-witted, and multifaceted Chief of the Provincial People's Committee Office. This character is described as having many "faces," knowing how to maneuver and survive in any situation. Mạnh Trường said this is a multifaceted role that he has never tried before.
The actor also revealed that the long and complex technical dialogue was the biggest challenge for the entire film crew, requiring intense concentration and thorough memorization of the script.
Notably, the film marks the reunion of Hong Diem and Manh Truong after 8 years since "A Lifetime of Grudges," but this time they play best friends instead of a romantic couple. In addition, the film also features veteran artists such as People's Artist Trung Anh, People's Artist Trong Trinh, and Meritorious Artist Pham Cuong.
Perspective from the production team
Meritorious Artist Le Manh, Acting Director of VFC, said that "The Dividing Line" is a project that has been nurtured for a long time with the desire to realistically recreate the fight against corruption and honor the courage of those working in the prosecution sector.
He emphasized: "The line is not only the boundary between good and evil, between right and wrong, but also the boundary within each person, between fame and fortune and justice." Close cooperation with the Supreme People's Procuratorate has given the film a solid foundation in terms of professionalism and legal basis.
Broadcast schedule
"The Dividing Line" promises to deliver a high-quality production, reflecting the spirit of the times and pressing social issues. The film is scheduled to air at 9:00 PM from Monday to Friday every week on VTV1, starting October 27th.