February promises a bustling box office season as four major Vietnamese films debut simultaneously on the first day of Tet (17/2). These highly anticipated releases, alongside animated features and other films, aim to draw audiences throughout the holiday period and beyond.
Early February releases set the stage for the festive cinematic lineup.
Nguoi Bat Tu
Premiere: 4/2
Genre: Psychological drama
Victor Vu's film, first screened eight years ago, returns to cinemas. It centers on An (Dinh Ngoc Diep), who is drawn to places that haunted her past. In the mountains, she discovers the diary of Hung (Quach Ngoc Ngoan), a man who has lived for three centuries. His tumultuous life, filled with ambition, hatred, and magic, gradually unfolds.
Tam Tan Ky
Premiere: 6/2
Genre: Action
Directed by Yuen Fai Ng and Jack Lai, this film features Louis Koo, Raymond Lam, Jessica Hsuan, Sonija Kwok, Sheren Tang, and Bai Baihe. Set more than 20 years after the final episode of the "A Step into the Past" series, it portrays the unification of the six warring states by Qin Shi Huang. A past case triggers a chain of events, as Ken (Michael Miu) attempts to return to the Qin era to change his fate, leading to conflict with Qin Wang (Raymond Lam) and Xiang Shao Long (Louis Koo).
On Tet's first day, 17/2, a wave of Vietnamese films, spanning various genres, will hit theaters.
Tho Oi
Premiere: 17/2
Genre: Psychological drama
This psychological drama is a signature work from director Tran Thanh. Singer Lyly portrays the host of a talk show discussing personal lives. She and celebrity guests, played by Dinh Ngoc Diep, BB Tran, Gil Le, and Cris Phan, delve into their views on marriage and love based on personal experiences. Rapper Phao plays a girl wearing a rabbit mask, who joins the show to share her story of being threatened by her boyfriend (Tran Thanh) but struggles to escape the toxic relationship.
Nha Ba Toi Mot Phong
Premiere: 17/2
Genre: Family, comedy
Artist Truong Giang makes his debut as a Tet film director, also starring as Thach, a single father. His character raises his daughter An (Minh Anh) by making fermented fish sauce in the Central region. When An fails to get into two fashion schools, her preferred field of study, Thach advises her to join the family business. This creates generational disagreements, leading to rifts between the father and daughter.
The film also features Le Khanh as Chau, Thach's friend, providing comedic relief. Anh Tu plays Phat, An's boyfriend. The young couple secretly date because Thach forbids his teenage daughter from having romantic relationships.
Bau Vat Troi Cho
Premiere: 17/2
Genre: Family, comedy
Directed by Le Thanh Son (known for 'Em Chua 18'), the film follows Ngoc (Phuong Anh Dao), a single mother with a complex past. She has a son conceived through artificial insemination using donated sperm. During a trip to the coast, Ngoc meets Hong (Tuan Tran), a fishing village diver guide, and discovers he is her son's biological father. This encounter leads them into a series of awkward situations, especially as Hong faces pressure to marry and have children to continue his family's legacy.
Mui Pho
Premiere: 17/2
Genre: Family drama
Minh Beta's film draws inspiration from Vietnamese family stories, where the traditional dish of pho becomes a thread connecting memories and emotions between generations in Mr. Mui's family. Beyond its psychological depth, the film interweaves humor, creating a warm atmosphere for Tet.
Animated features also opening on 17/2 cater to younger audiences.
Tho Ga Du Xuan Dai Nao Dia Dao
Premiere: 17/2
Genre: Animation, adventure
Directed by Benjamin Mousquet, this film revolves around the legend of a marmot with time-reversal abilities. When Chickenhare, a half-chicken, half-rabbit hybrid, realizes this mythical creature might be the last hope to save their species, he and his friends embark on a quest to find this ancient power, confronting lurking enemies.
Khung Long Don Tet
Premiere: 17/2
Genre: Animation, adventure
Sam Wilson's film follows a group of African animals who accidentally stumble into a time portal, sending them back to prehistoric times. To return to the present, they seek help from dinosaurs and together confront a gang of aliens.
Several other films will be released after the Tet holiday, extending the cinematic excitement throughout February.
Biet Doi Thu Cung: Cuoc Chien Tren Duong Ray
Premiere: 20/2
Genre: Animation
Directed by Benoît Daffis and Jean-Christian Tassy, this animated film sets a chase scene on a train, forcing a group of pets to unite and thwart the plot of the badger Hans. In a critical moment, the raccoon Falcon appears, ready to risk his life to save everyone.
Nha Minh Di Thoi
Premiere: 26/2
Genre: Family, comedy
Tran Dinh Hien's film tells the story of Phuong (Uyen An), an entrepreneur who orchestrates a family trip to secure investment for her project. The seemingly joyful beach trip gradually reveals conflicts, forcing family members to accept truths and mend their relationships.
Cam On Nguoi Da Thuc Cung Toi
Premiere: 27/2
Genre: Family, romance
Directed by Chung Chi Cong, this project stars Vo Phan Kim Khanh, Tran Doan Hoang, and Nguyen Hung. The plot revolves around young adults on the cusp of adulthood, facing choices between pursuing dreams and accepting reality. The film adopts a gentle narrative style, focusing on reflecting each character's hesitations and aspirations.
Doi Gio Hu
Premiere: 27/2
Genre: Psychological drama, romance
Emerald Fennell's adaptation explores the romantic relationship between Catherine (Margot Robbie) and Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi). As adults, they are pulled into different choices regarding social class and life, especially when Catherine decides to marry Edgar Linton. This decision pushes Heathcliff into despair, placing both in a conflict between reason and emotion.
Que Chi
