The wedding reception of businessman and literary critic Nguyen Thanh Son and actress Hong Anh on Valentine’s Day, last Saturday, in Phan Thiet.

A literature critic and his new bride, award-winning actress Hong Anh, share their lives, love and work.

But as a critic, he doesn’t shy away from analyzing his new wife, Hong Anh, who has just won Best Actress in Asia/Africa at the Dubai Film Festival.

“She’s most powerful in her silent scenes,” he says.

Son says the film Nguoi dan ba mong du (Sleepwalking woman) is a good example in which Hong Anh conveys deep feelings in silence.

In one scene, Anh waits and quietly watches as the male lead scoops water from a bucket for her to wash her feet. Son says Anh very subtly conveys deep feelings in her silence.

“In that scene, the look in Anh’s eyes and her gestures were those of a woman who doesn’t seem to belong to the present. Her character was torn between succumbing to past obsessions and stepping into the colorless present.”

He said Anh’s face and eyes were similarly evocative during a scene in which she sits alone in the rain. He says just the look on her face illustrates the meaning of the entire scene.

But the loving husband doesn’t shrink from giving criticism.

“In speaking scenes, especially in monologues, Anh’s gestures don’t always match the lines and it can sometimes be awkward,” he says.

Love like any other

Son says the famous couple’s love is like any other love: they’ve run the gamut of emotions.

But does Anh’s stardom interfere with their relationship?

Son says no, adding that he’s fine with taking a back seat while Anh is focused on shooting.

During filming, Anh often takes on the emotions of her characters and Son has learned that a little breathing room at these times isn’t a bad thing.

“We share the same attitude to art and respect each other’s career,” says Son.

“Both Anh and I know there are times we have to choose our career over spending time with each other. We both love each other in part because of our dedication to our crafts. That dedication provides part of the fuel for our love.”

He says the dynamic couple considers theirs a relationship between equals, not an affair in which either lover “idolizes” the other.

“We have loved and lived with each a long time and we’re proud of each other’s achievements,” he says.

“We’re also honest enough to point out each other’s weaknesses and patient enough to help each other improve. I love Anh for being herself, and Anh-the actress is part of that person. I’m very proud of that part and adore it, but that’s not the only part I love.”

He says they treat love carefully and delicately.

“We don’t think falling in love and living together means that we don’t need to try to better ourselves and cherish our love.”

He says the word “life-partner” best describes their relationship.

“We consider each other best friends, we share our thoughts, feelings and dreams and we help each other realize these dreams. But we don’t try to interfere with the way we live our lives.”

After all, marriage isn’t a cage, but a commitment, he says, adding that it’s too easy to become selfish when single.

“But when we’re married, we have to think of our partner in whatever we do… Living alone is easier, but it stunts our growth. Being married is more difficult but it helps us grow.

Power couple

Thirty-nine-year-old Son made his fortune as the founder of one of Vietnam’s top communications firms, T&A Communications.

After five years of writing lit-crit articles, Son’s 2002 book, Phe binh van hoc cua toi (My literary criticism) was well received in academic circles.

Anh, 33, has won several national and international acting awards, including the Murh Award for Best Actress in Asia/Africa at the 2008 Dubai International Film Festival last December.

She took the prize for her outstanding performance in filmmaker Nguyen Vinh Son’s Trang noi day gieng (Moon at the bottom of the well).

She also won Best Supporting Actress Prize at the 45th Asia-Pacific Film Festival in 2000 for her role in Doi Cat (Sandy life).

Anh and Son were married in a simple Buddhist ritual at Hoang Phap Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City’s Hoc Mon District on January 14.

Anh is a practicing member at Hoang Phap.

“Our wedding was simple and cozy… we wanted the moment to set the bar for our future: loving, caring, respectful and committed.”

After a ceremony for their ancestors at Son’s family home in Hanoi, the couple held a wedding reception on Valentine’s Day at the Romana Resort & Spa in the resort town of Phan Thiet in south-central Binh Thuan Province.

Reported by Hai Mien