The Third Wife (Người Vợ Ba) of young Vietnamese Director Nguyen Phuong Anh (Ash Mayfair) excellently surpassed the work of other world – renowned directors to win the prestigious award: The Best Film at the 24th International Film Festival (KIFF) in India.
Film Producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc was awarded The Royal Bengal Tiger by director Shoojit Sircar on behalf of the organizers at the 24th KIFF Film Festival in India. (Twitter)
Nguyen Phuong Anh and Producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc had been awarded the Royal Bengal Tiger with a certificate and a bonus of 5.1 million rupees (equivalent to 1.65 billion VND) by Actress Tabu and Bollywood Director Shoojit Sircar.
And the bonus money that Director Nguyen Phuong Anh and Film Producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc received was 1.65 billion VND. (Twitter)
The film is inspired from the countryside of Ninh Binh in late nineteenth century. The cramping space of the film had partly made viewers a little bit shock even suffocation of Vietnamese Feudal Society. The beginning of the film is the wedding ceremony of May (played by Nguyen Phuong Tra My) – a 14 – year old girl when she came to Hung’s house – an old and famous landlord at that time. Soon, May quickly realized the truth that if she gave birth to her son, her status in the family would be enhanced. Embraced by her husband, she became pregnant later. From that moment, the girl began to learn the standards of being a wife and a mother from the first two wives: Ha (Tran Nu Yen Khe) and Xuan (Maya). However, an incident happened and made things more complicated and May didn’t think that the aspiration hidden in her soul would one day forced her to choose between a stable life and freedom.
The footage is very honest and extremely skillful in using light to portrait the daily life in the Vietnamese feudal society in the 19th century.
Trailer The Third Wife (Người Vợ Ba): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTh4uTFWPeg
Nguyen Phuong Anh’s film has opened a new future for Vietnamese and International Film Industry. In addition to the award at the KIF, in 2016, the script for The Third Wife won the grand prize (HAF Award) at the 14th Hong Kong – Asia Financing Film Forum with a 20.000 USD bonus. Moreover, the screenplay was nominated at the White Light Post Production Award in Bangkok, Thailand 2017. After this success, Director Nguyen Phuong Anh started to work on the production, eventually brought the film to HAF and win the prizes this year. The film also won the most prestigious award of the Best Asian Film by the sponsor of NETPAC in Toronto International Film Festival in September, 2018.
Director Nguyen Phuong Anh and Film Producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc received award at FILMART in 2016.
Director Nguyen Phuong Anh and Film Producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc received award at HAF.
Screened for the first time in the Discovery at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Third Wife received positive responses from the critics. John Berra of the Screen Daily commented: “The Third Wife brings a special atmosphere and explores the repressed desires of women in Vietnamese countryside in late 19th century when it comes to describe about the marriage between a 14 – year –old girl and a wealthy landlord. After surpassing other films from Japan and China at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film was licensed by Film Movement to be widely – displayed in North America in 2019.
Director Nguyen Phuong Anh (3rd from right) and the crew of the film.
Nguyen Phuong Anh (Ash Mayfair) is a young director, rare talent of the new generation of directors in Vietnam. She has a Master Degree in London Theatrical Directorate, The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts London (RADA), England; Master of Film Production, Tisch School of Art, New York University, United States of America and a visiting lecturer of School of Humanities and Languages at Tan Tao University. She is also the daughter of President Dang Thi Hoang Yen, founder of Tan Tao University.
TTUers would like to congratulate the achievements that Ms. Nguyen Phuong Anh has achieved. We hope she always be healthy, optimistic to continue to contribute and bring glory to The Film Industry of Vietnam and Tan Tao University in particular.
