Handmaidens tale

The Hanoitimes - Ninety-six oil paintings featuring themes inspired by the Tale of Kieu - a masterpiece of Vietnamese poetry written by Nguyen Du are on display by devotee artist. An exhibition entitled “Paintings of the Tale of Kieu” is underway at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi to commemorate great poet Nguyen Du on the occasion of his 200th death anniversary (1820-2020). A work by painter Nguyen Tuan Son The exhibition of painter Nguyen Tuan Son, whose nickname is ‘Son Kieu’, consists 96 oil paintings featuring themes on the Tale of Kieu- a masterpiece of Vietnamese poetry written by Nguyen Du. The exhibition is expected to bring a new perspective on human values of familiar characters appeared in the epic poem through their portraits. The author wishes to have a cultural space for Kieu and Ho Xuan Huong in the capital, contributing to the development of art education and to national culture. These selectively artworks are considered achievements of more than 20 years of pursuing research, exploration and creation inspired on the Tale of Kieu by painter Nguyen Tuan Son. The abstract paintings are created in accordance with the artist's emotions, thus, visitors have to view them carefully many times and ‘read between brushstrokes’ to understand the hidden meaning in each painting. The exhibition will last until November 23, 2020. …

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EPIC: The movie poster for Kieu. (Photo courtesy of the producers) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) -  After more than a year in production, the full cast and crew for the film Kieu produced by Tincom Media were recently announced. The movie is based on Truyen Kieu (the Tale of Kieu) written by 18th century poet Nguyen Du, recognised as one of the country’s top literary works. The epic poem has more than 3,200 verses recounting the life and trials over 15 years of Kieu, a beautiful, talented young woman who had to sell herself to save her family. "Originally we planned to make a TV series of 40 episodes in 2010. However, that was replaced by the current 90-minute movie, said producer/director Mai Thu Huyen. "Therefore, I chose one period in her life that I think has the most attractive elements to put in the movie. "The focus is on Thuc Sinh, someone who’s not only her saviour but is also deeply in love with Kieu. I want to attract the modern audience with a classic topic of all time, love." While the main characters are relatively new faces, those in the supporting roles have bigger names like People’s Artist Le Khanh, singer Phuong Thanh, actors Hieu Hien, Long Dep Trai, and model Le Thu An. The movie is produced by Mai Thu Huyen with the script written by Phi Tien Son. The team, composed of more than 100 people, travelled across the country for two months for shooting, though the pandemic greatly affected the production process. Other artists involved include producer/director Huyen, Meritorious artist Phi Tien Son as scriptwriter/director of photography, executive producer Tran Buu Loc, designer Vi Ngoc Mai, costume designer Thuy Nguyen, and music director Bui Huy Tuan. With a voice deemed suitable for a historical drama soundtrack, singer Bui Lan Huong was entrusted to perform the movie’s theme song titled Kieu Menh Khuc and the music video will come out later this month. Le Anh Huy, the main actor playing Thuc Sinh, is a Vietnamese-American. …

[Read more...] about Actors gear up for ‘Kieu’ movie premiere in March

It’s customary for Vietnamese people to commemorate the ancestors, related or not, on the anniversary of their death. Not to mourn their passing, but to celebrate their life. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Nguyen Du, Vietnam’s most beloved poet. The Nguyen Du Memorial Compound welcomes poetry afficionados from around the country. The Nguyen Clan of Tien Dien in the central province of Ha Tinh together with the Vietnam Kieu Scholars Society held a solemn ceremony recently to honour the poet, who has lived in the hearts and souls of generations of Vietnamese over the course of two centuries. When Nguyen Du died in the autumn of 1820, writer Tien Phong Mong Lien Duong wrote a preface for the poet’s famed Truyen Kieu (The Tale of Kieu). “To Nhu [an alias of Nguyen Du] has explored the human psyche, has a personal narrative, has beautifully described nature, and is well-conversed in affairs of the heart. If he hadn’t had a far-reaching vision of the six realms of rebirth and existence: gods, demi-gods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hells, nor had a heart that aches for a thousand lifetimes, he would not have had such immense power in his pen.” In 1924, the Tien Duc Society, or the Association for the Intellectual and Moral Formation of Annamese, held a grand ceremony commemorating Nguyen Du and his legacy. Tran Trong Kim, deputy head of the literary section of the society, made a speech about the poet’s life. Pham Quynh, then a minister of the Royal Nguyen Court, presented a bilingual address in Vietnamese and French, while a singing speech was given by Confucian scholar Nguyen Don Phuc and an essay submitted by Bui Ky, encrypted on a stela. It was at this ceremony that Phạm Quỳnh made his famous remark: “As long as The Tale of Kieu exists, our [Vietnamese] language exists. And our language remains, our country remains.” During the next 50 years, the beautiful verses of The Tale of Kieu were cited many times, in …

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