Vietnam's Movie Shift: A Film Explores the Aftermath

In 2025, a unique film project called "Waiting for Godard" will hit the screens. This movie, directed by Vu Minh Nghia, dives into Vietnam's film industry changes, focusing on what happened after the Vietnam Feature Film Studio was sold in 2017. The studio's closure left many veteran filmmakers jobless. The film follows a young independent director who interviews these former filmmakers to understand their struggles. The project is part of the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF), and Vu discussed the cultural shifts that inspired the film. He pointed out that Western culture, specifically American and Hong Kong movies, took over Vietnam's market. People lost interest in the old wartime propaganda films. Vu noted that while Vietnam has developed economically, its cultural growth hasn't kept up. Materialism has risen, leading to many sad and funny situations.

Vu aims to show the absurdity of these changes. He wants the audience to laugh and feel sad at the same time. He draws from personal experiences with filmmakers and artists who faced alcoholism and frustration. The film's team includes notable producers like Nguyen Trung Nghia and Fran Borgia. Vu is looking for international co-production partners, especially from Taiwan, and exploring funding options at TCCF. The movie is in development. Pre-production starts in 2025, with shooting planned for the fall. Post-production will happen later that year, aiming for a 2026 release.

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