Local female film director Nguyen Hoang Diep will arrive in Cannes on May 15 for her movie “Dap Canh Giua Khong Trung” (Winging In The Sky), which has been invited to the Cannes International Film Festival 2012, to be held from May 16 to 27.

Vietnamese female director Nguyen Hoang Diep, Photo: Tuoi Tre

Diep had an interview with Tuoi Tre to talk about her work, which has been listed in the Fabrique des Cinemas du Monde category of the festival.

Before your first feature movie, you worked on TV series and advertisements. Was this for earning money, or for other reasons?

TV series and all kinds of audio-visual works give me chances to be a director as I wish. That really matters. If I hadn’t gained experience, inspiration and money from making them, I would have had no idea how to deal with “Dap Canh Giau Khong Trung” today. To me, I lost nothing making TV series and advertisements.

You earlier came to Cannes as the producer of “Bi, Dung So” (Bi, Don’t Be Afraid) directed by Phan Dang Di, and now you’re coming as the director of “Dap Canh Giua Khong Trung.” How are the two trips different?

The first time I came to the festival I only brought money and cigarettes to resupply the film crew. I was a glad to come, and a little happier when I stepped on the festival’s red carpet. That’s all. I’m wondering if this time will be boring since I’ll go alone.

Why is the movie title “Dap canh Giau Khong Trung”?

I chose the name since I wanted to express the confusion people feel when they are not able to fly high but do not feel safe enough to land. That’s why they keep winging in the middle of nowhere.

In the movie, when the character named Huyen tries to earn money for an abortion, she hesitates upon receiving money from a man who is in love with her since she’s pregnant. The film is about the reluctance of a lonely pregnant woman.

What will you bring to the world’s largest film festival?

If nothing has changed I’ll bring my silk red ao dai that I wore last year. I have to take care of everything on my own since I’m going alone. My suitcase will contain documents on my film projects, brochures, posters, instant noodle and of course a camera in case I meet Brad Pitt.

People may be interested in Cannes but to me it’s just a prosperous place where people burn through their money.

Do you hope that Cannes will bring good opportunities for “Dap canh Giua Khong Trung”?

It’s obvious to see that it is good if your movie is invited to such a famed festival, but it also has a bad side. I used to hope and lose faith. Fabrique Cinemas du Monde is definitely a good chance to promote my movie to the world as well as an opportunity to seek sponsors. I’m ready to promote the movie on the coming 9-day trip, but I will not set goals for myself like before.

Still, I sometimes can’t help but hope that I can come back from Cannes with investment and sponsors for “Winging in The Sky” to fly high.

We wish you luck in Cannes.
 

“Dap Canh Giua Khong Trung”, which features local singer Thanh Duy and Miss Vietnam in Russia 2007 Truong Ho Phuong Nga, tells the story of the hard lives of a group of youths and how they overcome temptation in urban life, and is scheduled to be completed this October.

The Fabrique des Cinemas du Monde category is for works made by young directors from emerging countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Near and Middle East.
 

Source: Tuoi Tre