“1982” - captivating and haunting footage

From red carpet success

Starting with documentaries on hot topics in society, TV series and sitcoms broadcast during prime time on National Television, director Nguyen Hoang Diep has now focused entirely on his own independent film studio Okia Hanoi. In 2009, as the production director of “Bi, Don’t be afraid” (directed by Phan Dang Di), the film won two awards in the “Critics Week” at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2014, Nguyen Hoang Diep wrote the script, directed, produced and self-released his debut film “Dap Canh Giua Khong Trung”. This was not only the first independent film to be commercially released and achieved success at the domestic box office, but was also premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, winning the “Best Film” award from the Federation of European and Mediterranean Film Critics (FEDORA). Along with this film, Nguyen Hoang Diep also received many other prestigious international awards such as: Best Director at the Bratislava International Film Festival; Best Film at the VFF Film Festival...

In 2016, director Nguyen Hoang Diep was honored by the French Ministry of Culture as a Knight of Arts and Letters. In 2017, she and her husband, architect Nghiem Quoc Cuong, founded O Kia Ha Noi - a cultural and creative center focusing on cinema, literature, heritage, and gender equality. Through art workshops, open art events, etc., she has connected art with the public and supported independent artists. Director Nguyen Hoang Diep founded the annual event series Se Se Chu - to honor the poetic heritage of Luu Quang Vu and Xuan Quynh. In the 2021-2022 period, Nguyen Hoang Diep organized the "Hanoi in Winter" film residency program focusing on the voices of female filmmakers and the theme of gender equality. This is the second largest residency program in Vietnam for young filmmakers. By 2024, she continued to resonate with the public as the producer of the independent theater project "Truong Ba's Soul, Butcher's Skin", a theater product that won individual Gold and Silver Medals at the National Theater Festival.

By winter 1982

Set in Hanoi, in old apartment buildings nestled among high-rise buildings, the film “1982” revolves around the character Thu Yen (played by Do Hai Yen) - a film director who has just been cheated out of all her savings while her family is in dire need of money. Meanwhile, her younger brother needs money to get married, her younger sister needs money to pay off debts, her mother’s dementia becomes worse, her memories gradually disappear. The mother suddenly disappears right when all three sisters need to convince her to sell the house to divide the property. The three sisters do everything to find their mother, including praying and fortune telling, hoping that their mother will return. In the end, in a way, the events have healed the family relationship that Yen thought had faded during her journey to find her mother.

Explaining the first idea for the film “1982”, director Nguyen Hoang Diep emotionally shared: When my film traveled around the world, won many international awards, became the first art film to be commercially released and achieved success at the Vietnamese box office, my mother suddenly became seriously ill. I took care of my mother for many years with a sense of guilt for not being able to help her in time when I was too focused on making the film. I even felt that the more successful I was, the sicker my mother became. My mother forgot many things, and was always worried that the family would forget her, and I also forgot many things in fear that the cinema would forget me. Time passed quickly, our family took good care of my mother, and the cinema was always warm to me, and I started the project “1982” with the companionship of Sven Zellner - a famous German director of photography.

Director Nguyen Hoang Diep decided to give the important role to his long-time friend Do Hai Yen, not only because of her talent and appeal in cinema but also because of her experience and understanding as well as her spirit of being ready to join in without stopping with the tragicomedies that the main character goes through. Besides the main actress are other names that guarantee appeal such as: Meritorious Artist Chieu Xuan, actress Thuy Anh, Nguyen Truong Khang, Bui Thac Phong...

“1982 was filmed in more than 20 days with a crew that could be considered the smallest in the world for a movie, only 12-14 people. Starting from the moment I had the idea, discussed with the director of photography Sven Zellner, discussed with the main actress Do Hai Yen, I also finished the script, made a list of collaborators (crew), sold the house to raise money to make the movie... All during the time Do Hai Yen was filming another movie. She had just finished the previous movie when she flew to Hanoi and entered 1982”, director Nguyen Hoang Diep said.

Director Nguyen Hoang Diep said that the most satisfying thing about the film's post-production was that she got to work with the best people in their field, not only understanding and trusting each other but also like-minded people, people who are always willing to dedicate themselves to cinema.

The film “1982” is a journey of sadness, emotion, and realistic drama - a kind of mental reality that is cinematic with humorous and unexpected twists, drawing an unusual world that the audience has never seen before. And finally, the return after 10 years of stopping acting of Do Hai Yen in “1982” is also an attractive plus point that the public is eagerly waiting for after the films “Vertical Summer”, “Pao's Story”, “Endless Field” or “Quiet American” that she participated in. “1982” promises to be a new, brilliant and “truly cinematic” success of Nguyen Hoang Diep, Do Hai Yen and the film crew ■