Hanoi-themed film earns record box-office takings

For the first time, a state-funded Vietnamese film about the history of Hanoi - "Dao, Pho & Piano", or "Peach Blossom, Noodle Soup and Piano" - made record revenues after just a few days in Hanoi cinemas.

Vietnamese artists in the feature film "Dao, Pho & Piano". Photo: Artist Doan Quoc Dam

According to Box Office Vietnam, an independent film sales analyst, the Vietnamese feature film "Dao, Pho & Piano" earned a record of VND505 million (US$21,000), in eight days from February 12 to 20. On February 20 alone, the film raked in VND166 million (US$7,000) from 3,322 tickets sold only at the National Cinema Center. The film became the third highest-grossing Vietnamese film, after the psychological film "Mai" and the comedy "Gap Lai Chi Bau," two Vietnamese films.

A source at the National Cinema Centre, the film "Dao, Pho & Piano" has recently become so popular that the number of screenings has increased dramatically. The feature film offers 16 screenings a day, attracting thousands of moviegoers.

"I could not buy an online ticket for "Dao, Pho & Piano" from the National Cinema Center's website. The network is often overloaded, possibly due to excessive access," Thanh Huong, an audience member from Ba Dinh District, told The Hanoi Times.

The poster of "Dao, Pho & Piano" movie.

Currently, the National Cinema Center is the only screening venue for the film. All revenues from "Dao, Pho & Piano" will go directly to the state budget. The film is expected to be shown in other venues in the future.

Directed by Phi Tien Son, "Dao, Pho & Piano" was commissioned by the Cinema Department of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and produced by Film Studio No.1 JSC. The state-funded film has an investment of VND20 billion ($820,000).

"Dao, Pho & Piano" won the Silver Lotus Award at the 23rd Vietnam Film Festival in November last year.

Moviegoers queue to buy tickets at the National Cinema Center. Photo: Tien Tran

According to screenwriter Trinh Thanh Nha, other Vietnamese films can become such box-office hits if they have good scripts and are properly invested.

"The popularity of 'Dao, Pho & Piano' shows that audiences have a great love for Vietnamese films, which can somehow be compared to Hollywood blockbusters," she said.

The film "Dao, Pho & Piano" tells the story of a young couple who braved the dangers to see each other on the last day, February 17, 1947, before the Vietnamese troops retreated to the Viet Bac Military Zone and began the long resistance war.

Having met in the middle of a street battle, the lovers had only a few hours to marry in a situation between life and death. The plot focuses on their last moments of love for life, beauty, and freedom.

A scene from "Dao, Pho & Piano".

Against the backdrop of the fierce house-to-house, street-to-street battle in 60 days and nights, against the evil and cruelty of war, are the images of patriotic yet graceful Hanoians who willingly sacrifice their lives to protect their beloved Hanoi and their passions.

According to director Phi Tien Son, in the film, the indomitable dignity of the Vietnamese people pervades all the residents of Hanoi. At the same time, the film shows elegant Hanoians who are determined to die for their country, regardless of their age, profession, class, or religion.

In the movie, the fiercest final days of the street battle are just before Tet (Lunar New Year) - when peach blossoms are a must in every household.

As for food, pho has always been a mainstay among Hanoians. And in the quiet atmosphere of old Hanoi, the sound of piano playing could often be heard in a certain house. These are the three elements that made up the inspiration for as well as the title "Dao, Pho & Piano".