A still from Nhat ky Bach Tuyet (Snow White’s diary)

Viewers will need to take popcorn rather than Kleenex to this year’s Tet (the lunar New Year) films.

Another feature this year will be the competition as local directors take on overseas Vietnamese auteur.

Vietnamese ‘Ghost’ and Snow ‘Black’

Khi yeu dung quay dau lai (Love means never turning back) by talented overseas Vietnamese director Nguyen Vo Nghiem Minh bears the same leitmotif of noted Hollywood film “Ghost” – a woman falls in love with a ghost.

Minh, who achieved fame with his Mua len trau (Buffalo boy), which vividly depicted farmers’ lives and the Mekong Delta in the 1940s and won awards in the US, France, and across Asia, this time narrates the story of Nguyen Xuan (played by singer-actress Ngan Khanh), a beautiful but poor dancer.

Her life changes suddenly when she takes up a job at the Van Hoi Xuan club, which is the setting for some eerie occurrences.

Xuan falls in love with saxophonist Bach Du (Thanh Thuc) but their passionate affair soon turns into tragedy when Xuan finds out that her lover is a ghost.

Renowned director Nguyen Quang Dung has written the script for Nhat ky Bach Tuyet (Snow White’s diary) which has his trademark humor and twists.

Directed by Le Bao Trung, it is a modern fairy tale of a young dark-skinned girl called Tuyet (Snow). Following an injury to her head, Tuyet believes she is Snow White and her mother is her step mom.

The seven dwarfs and a prince are all there but they come with a twist – they are scheming to steal her family’s fortune.

The lead roles are played by debutants Truc Diem and Vinh Thuy. Diem was crowned Miss Fashion at the 2007 Miss Earth pageant, and Thuy won the Mr Photogenic title at last year’s Mr International.

The first Vietnamese musical?

Nguyen Quang Dung, who has directed Nhung nu hon ruc ro (Resplendent kisses), said it was hard making the first Vietnamese musical since there was no established precedent to fall back on, but he was inspired nevertheless.

Model-turned-actress Thanh Hang, who impressed two years ago in Dung’s blockbuster Nu hon than Chet (The Death kiss), is back in the spotlight as Lam, the beautiful and materialistic owner of a luxury resort.

When her resort teeters on the verge of bankruptcy, she decides to hold a big musical to save it.

Co-starring is singer-turned-actress Minh Hang, 23, who has played many major roles in both TV serials and films. After last year’s Giai cuu than chet (Hot kiss 2), the highly anticipated sequel to the 2008 film Nu hon than Chet, Hang has become a hot property.

Dung, who is called “Dung khung” (crazy Dung) for his unconventional filmmaking techniques, said the film’s message is that anyone can sing, dance, and love provided that they are happy.

After the runaway success of his historical, Dong mau anh hung (The rebel), director Charlie Nguyen returns with De mai tinh starring overseas Vietnamese stars Dustin Nguyen and Kathy Uyen.

The film tells the story of a singer called Mai (Uyen), an overseas Vietnamese living in Vietnam, who falls in love with Dung (Dustin Nguyen). The cultural differences and Mai’s struggles to make up her mind are depicted in a light-hearted but profound manner. The film is set in Hanoi, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Cong chua teen va ngu ho tuong, directed by Le Loc, also features a lot of music. It is about teenager Britney Bich who imitates American pop star Britney Spears, and becomes famous – and spoilt – at a young age.

Her friends and relatives, unable to put up with her precious ways any longer, decide to stage a fake kidnapping to teach Bich a lesson.

The highlight of the film is the performance of teen heartthrob, singer Bao Thy, as Britney Bich and the presence of noted comedians.

Compiled by Kim