an award-winning short story by Nguyen Ngoc Tu, is poised to become a
box-office hit in HCM City.
Tickets were sold out hours
before the filmshows began at big cinemas like Megastar Hung Vuong,
Galaxy Nguyen Du and Galaxy Nguyen Trai on Oct.27.
Several theatres increased the number of daily shows from two to three but many people were still unable to get tickets.
The film, produced by the BHD Company, has grossed nearly 4 billion VND (205,000 USD) in the first four days of screening.
"We're encouraged that Floating Lives are attracting big crowds at
cinemas and many viewers have posted favourable comments on social
networking sites," said Ngo Thi Bich Hien, BHD deputy director.
"The film tells an emotional story and audiences are curious about it, " Hien said.
"We enjoyed the film because its representation of human despair,
suffering and love is lively and persuasive, " said a third-year HCM
City university student. "The film's well-known actors and actresses
also attract young people," he said.
Floating Lives,
which premiered at the Vietnam International Film Festival in Hanoi
last week, will also be screened in Bien Hoa, Da Nang and Hai Phong.
The film, directed by Nguyen Phan Quang Binh, tells the
story of a family who leads a nomadic life on rivers in the Cuu Long (
Mekong ) Delta region. The main character is Vo (played by overseas
Vietnamese actor Dustin Nguyen) whose wife left him for a cloth vendor.
He seeks solace in other women, whom he jilts as soon as they have
fallen in love with him.
When Suong (acted by Do Thi Hai
Yen), a prostitute, joins the family, Vo's daughter and son welcome her
and love her. Vo's affection for her also grows.
Canh Dong
Bat Tan created a literary stir among Vietnamese readers when it was
published five years ago. Released by the Tre (Youth) Publishing House,
the story was a bestseller in Vietnam in 2005.
"We
know how difficult it is to turn a work of literature appreciated by a
great number of people into an equally popular film," the film makers
said.
The story won an award of the Vietnam Writers Association in 2006./.
