'Going Home for Tet': Ngo Thanh Van's True Tet Movie

Most Vietnamese movies released during the Lunar New Year are comedies, with a bit of action or romance, aimed at the audience's desire to relax during the first days of spring.

However, the Tet element in films is often just for decoration, it's okay to have it, but it's okay to leave it out. But withGo home for TetWith Ngo Thanh Van as producer, not only the title but also the entire content and ideas of the work revolve around a very familiar theme every Lunar New Year: family reunion.

The film begins with a “storm” with the chaotic trip of female driver Dau Xanh (Ngo Thanh Van) and her younger brother Dau Do (Jun Pham). No longer a strict, noble woman, Ngo Thanh Van now tries her hand at a new image: a rough, hot-tempered driver who occasionally jokes and teases her stubborn younger brother.

Due to gender, Dau Xanh was kicked out of the house by his father, and together with his younger brother, they wandered around to make a living on a shabby bus that ran the Saigon - Western route. But because of the duo's "terrifying" driving skills, in the end, no bus station dared to accept the Dau sisters' bus anymore.

Being overwhelmed with the worry of “losing Tet” due to unemployment, Dau Xanh and Dau Do are generously booked a trip by Tu Ech (Trung Dan). They are tasked with taking him and the heirloom box back to their hometown. However, the journey is not smooth when four mysterious guests appear, leading to a series of humorous and thrilling situations.

Ngo Thanh Van is a famous actress in Vietnamese cinema with many remarkable behind-the-scenes stories. But choosing a truly excellent role of hers is not easy, because the action actress's acting ability always causes certain controversy.

Fortunately, inGo home for Tet, being able to work with "favorite student" Jun Pham helped Ngo Thanh Van confidently "go all out" and express emotional aspects that the audience rarely sees in the actress. It was thought that Van Ngo was most suitable for cold, luxurious roles, but she proved to be very close, simple, and suitable for the character Dau Xanh in the film.

Former member of group 365 - Jun Pham - continues to demonstrate his acting and speaking ability after his impression inThe girl from yesterday(2017). With a humorous, cinematic face, he had no difficulty playing the role of the honest, mischievous guy Dau Do.

Jun Pham and Ngo Thanh Van, one tossing and the other catching, are in perfect harmony, leading the audience from one surprise to another inGo home for TetAlthough the film features many other notable faces, the two sisters Dau Xanh - Dau Do always prove to be worthy "hosts" of the on-screen party.

But that doesn't mean that the veteran Trung Dan is overshadowed by the main actors. Whenever Ngo Thanh Van and Jun Pham show signs of "going too far", he is there to hold back, helping the plot not become ridiculous or too noisy. The calm and kind character of Mr. Tu Ech brings valuable low notes to the film.Go home for Tet

The remaining passengers on the bus of the two sisters Dau Xanh - Dau Do were no different from a "theater", with all kinds of costumes, from ordinary to strangely colorful.

At first glance, the audience might suspect that this is a sign thatGo home for Tetis a slapstick comedy or a slapstick comedy. Fortunately, the film crew knows how to restrain when necessary to help the work not fall into a "disaster" state.

Besides a series of funny moments, at the end of the movie,Go home for Tettries to connect with the audience with emotional stories behind each character's grotesque appearance.

There is a tough female driver who is always homesick and doesn't dare to return home. There is a rich old man who only wants to be with his children and grandchildren during Tet. There is a young man who is far from home and feels sorry for his parents who are alone day and night, so he decides to leave the bustling city to return to his family.

Or the crazy girl who unconsciously longs to return to her parents, even if only for a few short days, or the old couple who "let it all go" and quarrel over trivial matters, only to realize that nothing is more important than the true love they have kept for decades...

The lives inGo home for Tetmay be cheesy, but in fact it is very suitable for the atmosphere and the time of the film's release. All of this helps create an overall picture called "reunion" - which makes every Lunar New Year holiday meaningful and complete.

Also because the film can be classified as a comedy - journey genre,Go home for Tetcontains some stunning Western landscapes. But the quality of the images is not maintained in the action scenes. The special effects in the film are poor, partly due to the modest production budget.

Go home for TetIt is certainly not an excellent film as there are still many “mistakes” in the script, and a few times the train almost “derailed” because of the excessive and chaotic jokes. But the work once again shows Ngo Thanh Van’s cleverness in capturing the tastes of domestic audiences.

The film is showing in theaters nationwide.