Lotto is a strange phrase to people in the North but is extremely familiar to the Southwest. This is a form of folk culture and entertainment that developed extremely well in this area in the 80s of the 20th century.
The name "lotto" is translated from the French word "loto" (derived from the Italian word "lotto"), which means "lot".
This game first appeared in Italy in the 16th century and gradually spread widely to countries around the world. In the US, there is also a similar version of lottery, Bingo, popular at fairs in the 1920s.
Lotto is also often associated with rhymes, songs, rhymes... on festivals or Lunar New Year .
The game manager will randomly draw a number from the basket or plastic bag (usually there will be about 60 or 90 numbers).
Then, they will sing a song to name that number and the last word of that song will be a homophone with the number just drawn. The winner will be the person who marks all the horizontal numbers on the same ticket called by the game manager.
For example, in calling the number 5:
What number is this, what number is this, what number is the flag...
Sideburns are short and long
Get married and not love each other for thousands of years
The number five (5), the number five (5).
Vietnamese lottery differs from international versions in the combination of entertainment, variety, entertainment games and prize-winning games. Lottery troupes are mainly operated and performed by transgender women or men who cross-dress as women. Many lottery vendors take advantage of the lower part of the stage as a place for living and activities for the whole group.
The "actresses" and lottery troupes have appeared many times on Vietnamese screens. Among them, we can mention the documentary "Lottery Memories", "Ms. Phung's Last Trip", the movies " Lottery ", " Love Western Girl "...
Most movies portray lotto "girls" as transgender or aspiring to become transgender. They used to have poor, even miserable, unhappy lives, experiencing many discriminatory and contemptuous looks from those around them, but still persistently pursued their profession, proudly earning a living with their own strength. mine.
"Lottery" (2017) is one of the most highly rated films on this topic on the big screen in Vietnam. The work tells about the life here and there, "drifting in the river and getting lost in the market" of the Phu Hoa troupe. The boy was named Duc by his parents but had the soul of a girl. He was rejected and tormented by his family to the point that he had to leave home.
Most movies about transgender "girls" in the lotto theater show sad, tearful stories.
However, in today's society, transgender people are increasingly proving themselves, having their own place and voice. The lotto troupes are still operating, bringing joy and laughter to everyone, and the fate of "girls" is gradually no longer viewed by society with the same strict eyes as before.
