In the conversation, the female artist frankly talked about the pressure of releasing during peak times as well as the fear of failure and the concept of hundred-billion VND film revenue.
Can distinguish between theater and cinema
Some opinions say that you "act below your ability", the emotions are not "fulfilled" in a few scenes in the movie "Ai thuong ai meen". How do you receive this opinion?
- That belongs to the audience's assessment. As for myself, in the position of director, looking at myself, I feel that I am enough with the character Men at the right time, in the right circumstances.
If I "push" more, I'm afraid it will be dramatic, heavy. I don't want to act in a tragic or negative style. Poor is already poor from the beginning, born poor, not "touching poverty" and then being sad and desperate. People still have to be optimistic to look ahead. I believe that choice is in line with the spirit of the story.
But if the audience watches and finds it unsatisfactory, I will look back to learn from experience for the following projects.
Many people call this project a "tragedy film", even a "tragedy" because of successive events. Director Thu Trang, what is your opinion on this view of the audience, especially at the time the film is released in theaters at the beginning of 2026?
- Each person has a different perspective. I just had a screening for the press, for my colleagues in the profession, and I received a lot of different feedback. That made me realize that the film has many layers of perception.
Some people watch the final scene when the character holds their husband's hand happily, they don't cry. But some people say: "Oh my god, it's so sad". I personally don't see it as sad; I see it as a fulfillment in the character's way. Old people also have to say goodbye to life, that's normal.
Even with other characters, audiences also offer different understandings. Some people say that the character chooses sentimentality because he "borrows money from his family", so he has to pay, which is obvious. I think the film does not have evil roles. No one intentionally acts badly. It's all like a series of fates pushing people into upheaval.
You once shared that the film was inspired by a stage work. Many people see some similarities with the script they have seen. Can you elaborate on the adaptation process?
- I bought the idea from a stage work, but not from the play that people are mentioning. It's a cai luong work, I bought the idea, and then remade almost everything to suit the cinematic language.
Some viewers suggested that the makeup when the character is old is not really convincing. What is your reaction?
- It's also interesting that some people give "a slight miss" on makeup, but some people praise "too old to keep". Each person has a different perspective. If I find that feedback reasonable, I will review it and learn from experience. As for myself, currently I see that the makeup part is still okay in the overall story.
Are you satisfied with both directing and playing the center role? If you could do it again, what would you change?
- If I had the opportunity to redo it, I wouldn't take on two roles at the same time anymore. It's tiring and hard! It also "eats" a lot of time and energy in production. Later, if I direct, I can appear in a small role for fun, but not take on a big role and shoulder both roles at the same time.
Audiences noticed that in recent years you have chosen a more quiet, less humorous role. Is this a proactive shift in direction or is it "fate" coming?
- Partly proactive. If you now ask me to re-act the role of "goods like shrimp and fish" like when I was young, I won't be confident anymore. Youth is over.
Comedy can still be done, but it must be humor with situations, with depth, with something. When I was young, sometimes I "disregarded" a little to make people laugh; now I don't do it that way anymore, because I'm no longer confident in doing it like that.
Revenue pressure is inevitable
Does the revenue problem put pressure on you? What do you expect for the film?
- Revenue is a difficult problem. We can control the production process: script, actors, filming... but when it goes to theaters, we can't control it anymore. It all depends on the audience.
I only maintain the belief that my film is good enough, enough to touch the audience or not. Of course, I still hope the film has the best possible revenue. I am not compared to anyone; just "more than myself" makes me happy because I see myself developing.
I also don't want a movie that goes to theaters and loses money.
Movies released in theaters at the beginning of the year often face many outstanding projects, including foreign "blockbuster" movies. Do you have competitive pressure?
- Pressure is there, because I worry about many films. But I worry in my own way: worrying to do my part well, then supporting the marketing department to run the best so that the film is close to the audience, so that the audience knows and goes to the cinema to watch. The rest, I can't control everything.
Some opinions say that the success of the previous movie - "Billion-dollar Kiss" was "lucky". What is your response?
- My path has been slow since I was an actress. I have been in the profession for many years, and audiences only know about Thu Trang. Even directors.
When my debut film was successful, I was happy, but if anyone says lucky, I also accept it as lucky. I think "giving" a part. I am not so confident as to think that my debut film achieved a large number entirely because I am "good". Thinking like that is to lighten the burden. What do people think, what should we do to make it heavy.
Some comments say that you are choosing a safe topic, because it still revolves around family, family, and feelings. Do you feel "safe"?
- Each director has a taste and a forte. People who like horror make horror, people who like action make action. I have always had a "family taste", family has comedy, so I follow my own style.
I am not afraid that people will talk about exploiting family topics forever, because family topics are immortal topics, they cannot be old. The important thing is to tell the story in a new way.
Like the previous movies, if summarized, everyone finds it familiar: Love stories, couple stories... But the way of telling, the situation, the comedy rhythm, the way of building characters make the audience feel cute and optimistic. This movie is also the same: The story of Sister Worrying for You, Family Life... which is "widespread", but we have to tell it in a new way so that young people are interested. Many times Hollywood also tells old stories, just a different way of telling them.
Looking back at the Vietnamese film market in the past year, from the perspective of producers - directors - actors, how do you feel?
- I see that it was a successful year for Vietnamese cinema, there are films with very high revenue. The higher the revenue, the more motivated people in the profession are. Who wouldn't dream of good revenue? Look at that to strive.
But high revenue does not mean that quality is always good. At least, high revenue shows that the film touches the audience, the audience chooses that film. When the audience has chosen, it means that the film has something that makes them want to go to theaters.
In my opinion, the market is in a stage of self-adjustment. In 2025, the story of film revenue is no longer just "hundreds of billions", it has "passed the trend" but has higher milestones, now it may be from 200 billion VND or more. When it has exceeded the threshold, the market will need a period of stabilization.
There is a view that the market is favoring easy-to-see, easy-to-laugh movies over psychological or artistic-oriented films. What do you think?
- It's also partly true, because looking at high-grossing films, most are easy-to-watch movies. But easy-to-watch does not mean that the movie is not good. The important thing is that it brings laughter, or touches emotions that make the audience like it.
As for art films, if filmmakers have chosen the art path, they usually do not put much emphasis on revenue. Art films wanting to reach the general public, in my opinion, still have a long way to go, because of the current audience's choice habits.
