Efforts to "swim out to sea"
Several prominent domestic faces have "attacked" the international market, especially Hollywood, including Ngo Thanh Van, Truong Ngoc Anh...
They have been trying to "reach out to the big sea" for many years, like Ngo Thanh Van, one of the Vietnamese stars who has acted in the most foreign films. She has participated in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (2017), "Da 5 Bloods" (2020), "The Old Guard" (2020), "The Princess" (2022)... The latest film this action star has starred in is the blockbuster "The Creator". In the film, Ngo Thanh Van plays the robot Kami. She shared: "Even though I only appear briefly, I still hope the role leaves some impression."
In 2024, the Korean movie “I bet you can’t handcuff me” when shown in Vietnamese theaters attracted great attention from the audience. The movie was at the top of Vietnamese theaters because of its humorous content and quality cast.
The film's appeal in the Vietnamese market partly comes from the presence of a Vietnamese actress, Tue Minh. Her presence was a big surprise to the audience because it is very rare for a Vietnamese artist to act in a Korean blockbuster, and she also has many scenes with two famous actors, Hwang Jung Min and Jung Hae In.
Besides Tue Minh, the name that attracts attention is Lien Binh Phat. He co-stars with famous star Truong Quan Ninh (Taiwanese, Chinese actor) in "Hoa Ngoai Chi Y". The film will be made in 2023.
Lien Binh Phat revealed that he plays the male lead in the work, a Vietnamese doctor living in Taiwan (China). He has a kind heart and always helps patients with all his heart. It is quite rare for Vietnamese actors to play the lead role in foreign films. This also shows that Lien Binh Phat (and many Vietnamese stars) are eager to establish a position and name in the international market. However, most Vietnamese actors do not have many opportunities to shine for many reasons.
Big challenge
Realistically speaking, although the number of domestic actors starring in foreign films has increased, it is still only a handful. Unfortunately, despite having the opportunity to collaborate with the world’s leading directors and film crews, in general, Vietnamese stars have very few opportunities to shine.
Like Ngo Thanh Van, although in the Vietnamese film industry, she is considered a name that guarantees the quality of films, but when reaching out internationally, the actress has not had the opportunity to shine as she only appears in small roles, with very little screen time.
In the blockbuster "The Creator", Ngo Thanh Van only appeared for a few minutes, her role was not important in the film, making the audience regret waiting for the appearance of this leading female action star on Vietnamese screens.
Ngo Thanh Van is a rare female star who is not afraid to seek opportunities in the international market. Although her roles are small and short, Ngo Thanh Van said she is still constantly trying to find better opportunities for herself.
Remember in 2010, the media and movie-loving audiences were abuzz with the news that Ly Nha Ky and Vu Thu Phuong were invited to act in the movie "Shanghai" with the participation of Gong Li and Chow Yun Fat.
Returning to Vietnam after participating in the film, actress Ly Nha Ky held a press conference to share about this role. She said that she had to struggle and have difficulty because this role was difficult to play, making the audience expect the beauty to play a key role, making a strong impression on the audience. When "Shanghai" was released, Vietnamese audiences could not help but be... disappointed because her role only appeared for a few short seconds, without any dialogue, and without any action scenes.
The number of Vietnamese stars participating in foreign films is increasing, but to make an impression and make a big impact in the international market is a big challenge. The international film market is vibrant and highly competitive, so it is not easy for Vietnamese actors to find opportunities in foreign films.
