Seminar "Realistic Cinema or a Simulation of Life"

The panel discussion was attended by director Tran Thanh Huy, rapper Wowy, and lecturers from the Department of Art Studies, Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, along with a large audience of film enthusiasts in Hanoi.

Opening the seminar, Dr. Hoang Cam Giang,tSpeaking on behalf of the Department of Art Studies, he shared: “Besides independent directors who have already established their talent and style such as Siu Pham, Phan Dang Di, Nguyen Hoang Diep, Nguyen Trinh Thi…, the younger generation such as Pham Ngoc Lan, Tran Bao, Nguyen Le Hoang Viet, Tran Thanh Huy… have breathed new life into contemporary Vietnamese cinema. The news that "Rom" won an award at the Busan Film Festival is not only good news for the film industry or the director alone, but also for the entire academic research community on cinema like us and all film-loving audiences in Vietnam. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to filmmakers like Tran Thanh Huy who have brought forth a kind of cinema that is not simply a “reflection of reality” – something that journalism has already done very well – but also seeks out and discovers the hidden beauty behind the mud, dust, hardships, and humiliations.”

Continuing the theme of realism and the simulation of life in cinema, director Tran Thanh Huy stated: "Film is life, and life is also film. We cannot completely bring real life onto the screen; we always need to process it. Processing here means combining the souls of the artists and the material of life to create a film."

According to director Tran Thanh Huy, the real-life elements in "Rom" come from street artists. To create the most authentic setting, the film crew had to research and experience real life outside, bringing those things to the film to create a unique atmosphere. Another source of real-life material that Tran Thanh Huy received came from his connection with Wowy's song "Chạy" (Run): "The song contains elements of life, elements of Saigon. It contains very simple, honest lyrics, all from street artists, in this case, Wowy."

Director Tran Thanh Huy

During the panel discussion, Wowy revealed some details about his character in the film: "My role acts as a link connecting everything that happens in the film and will be an important role."

The seminar was a great success and left a strong impression on the attendees. Director Tran Thanh Huy hopes that through the journey of "Rom" and the achievements the film has made so far, young filmmakers in Vietnam will gain more confidence, so that in the future, Vietnamese cinema can produce even more high-quality works.