"The Tale of Kieu"

French Title: "L'Histoire de Kieu"

Genre: historical drama
Circa: 16th century
Main Location: Vietnam
Duration: 2h00 min
Format: 35 mm
Estimated Budget: 3 millions USD

This film project is copyrighted and protected under international laws.

Project outline:

"The Tale of Kieu" is adapted from an epic poem in Vietnamese written by the 18th century writer Nguyen Du (1766-1820). The original title in Vietnamese is "Doan Truong Tan Thanh" (lit. ‘painful new voices’), but it is better known by the Vietnamese as "Truyen Kieu" (lit. "The Tale of Kieu") or "Kim Van Kieu".

"The Tale of Kieu" has long been known to Southeast Asian scholars as the supreme incarnation of 19th century Vietnamese literature. It is also considered as one of the masterpieces of world literature, the equal of Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables” and the verse classics of Goethe and Schiller.

It is a classic as it is taught in school and quoted by almost any Vietnamese: the verses are even recited at social gatherings and used as a book to predict the future the 1st of the New Year.

"As long as "The Tale of Kieu" lasts, our language will last; and as long as our language lasts, our country will last." Pham Quynh (1920's)

"After the collapse of South Vietnam in 1975, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese have fled from their homeland and now live in exile, scattered over various parts of the globe. Often psychologically and socially estranged from a host country whose language they do not understand, many derive spiritual comfort from Nguyen Du’s masterpiece. To the extent that the poem implies something at the very core of Vietnamese experience, it addresses them intimately as victims, as refugees, as survivors. Kieu’s story conveys a message of hope for both the individual and the country. "  Huynh Sanh Thong – Yale University Press

Pitch/logline:

Taking place in a rigid patriarchal society in Vietnam, "The Tale of Kieu" recounts the extraordinary life, trials and tribulations of Kieu, a beautiful young lady who has to struggle to regain her dignity as a woman after she sells herself as a courtesan to save her father from jail.

Synopsis:

Vietnam, 16th century. Born into a well-educated family, Kieu is a beautiful and talented young woman, the eldest daughter of Mr Vuong, who was a literati. She is deeply in love with a young scholar, Kim, a friend of her young brother, Quan. For family reasons, Kim has to travel far away. To seal their love before his departure, Kieu and him make a pledge of betrothal, promising each other to get married upon his return. Alas, a tragedy falls on Kieu's family. Because of false charges, Kieu's father and brother are imprisoned. In order to save them, Kieu has to find a big sum of money to pay the corrupted judge. In total despair, she has no choice but to sacrifice her first love and sells herself to another man in the form of a marriage for money. Unfortunately, her husband, Ma Giam Sinh, happens to be a pimp who resells her to Tu Ba, a madam that forces Kieu into prostitution... From then on, catastrophe after catastrophe falls on her. She has to follow her fate, struggling over 15 years to regain her dignity as a woman in a rigid patriarchal society... In the meantime, Kim, her first love, is desperately searching for her...

Film dialogues and voice-over narration (extracts):

Film introduction (voice-over):

“A hundred years – in this life span on earth
talent and destiny are apt to feud.
You must go through a play of ebb and flow
and watch such things as make you sick at heart.
Is it so strange that losses balance gains?
Blue Heaven’s wont to strike a rose from spite.
By lamplight turn these scented leaves and read
a tale of love recorded in old books.”

Presentation of the main character, Kieu (voice-over):

“Her eyes were autumn streams, her brows spring hills.
Flowers grudged her glamour, willows her fresh hue.
A glance or two from her, and kingdoms rocked!
Supreme in looks, she had few peers in gifts.
By Heaven blessed with wit, she knew all skills:
she could write verse and paint, could sing and chant.
Of music she had mastered all five tones
and played the lute far better than Ai Chang.”

Kim expressing his love for Kieu:

“We are neighbors, not two strangers, not at all!
I ow this moment to some scent you dropped,
but countless torments I’ve endured till now.
So long I’ve waited for just this one day!
Stay on and let me ask your private thoughts.”

Verse conclusion of the film (voice-over):

“This we have learned: with Heaven rest all things.
Heaven appoints each human to a place.
If doomed to roll in dust, we’ll roll in dust.
We’ll sit on high when destined for high seats.
Does Heaven ever favor anyone,
bestowing both rare talent and good luck?
In talent take no overweening pride,
for talent and disaster form a pair.
Our karma we must carry as our lot.
Let’s stop decrying Heaven’s whims and quirks.
Inside ourselves there lies the root of good:
the heart outweighs all talent on this earth.
May these crude words, culled one by one and strung,
beguile an hour or two of your long night. ”

Comments:

Nguyen Du made use of the plot of "The Tale of Kieu" to convey the situation in Vietnam at the end of the 18th century. The ruling Le Dynasty was controlled by the Trinh lords in the north and the Nguyen lords in the south. While the Trinh and the Nguyen were fighting against each other the Tay Son rebels overthrew the Le dynasty in 1778. Nguyen Du was loyal to the Le dynasty and hoped for the return of the Le king. In 1802 the Nguyen lord Nguyen Anh made an end to the Tay Son reign forming the new Nguyen dynasty. Nguyen Anh, now king Gia Long, wanted Nguyen Du to join the new government. He had no choice, though he was still loyal to the Le dynasty. His situation is analogous to the situation of Kieu, the main character in "The Tale of Kieu", who had to sell herself to another man, though in love with Kim.

Nguyen Du was writing Kieu's story with his blood and his tears. "The Tale of Kieu" explores the many conflicting virtues imposed on Kieu by a traditional Confucian society and how they affect her life.

"The Tale of Kieu" combines Taoist, Confucian and Buddhist themes from filial piety, karma and impermanence to the determination to endure and triumph over personal tragedy. Also, "The Tale of Kieu" symbolises, through its heroine, the brutality of the patriarchal Confucian society and the themes of conflict between duty and desire, tradition and modernity, traditional virtues and identity.

Themes include also nation-state formation in East Asia, mercantilism and colonialism, symbolic capital and literati culture, national realism and national allegory. As significantly, "The Tale of Kieu" becomes a metaphor for Vietnam's national oppression and survival.

Author's statement: my personal reasons for making this film

Why do I want to adapt "The Tale of Kieu" into a feature film?

Actually, for no rational reasons. This film project comes from my heart. A heart that tells me that, as Vietnamese, it is one of my duty to contribute to the preservation of Vietnamese cultural and philosophical heritage.

"The Tale of Kieu" is Vietnam's national treasure.

In this post-war troubled time, we have to preserve it through all possible means. Cinema is one of them, probably the most powerful mass media of our time. Making a film adaptation of the classic novel, "The Tale of Kieu", is certainly one of the most skillful and effective means for touching the heart of the new generation of Vietnamese and keeping them connected to their vietnamese roots.

Also, giving most Westerners access to "The Tale of Kieu" will help them gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and values, then contributing to better cohabitation, harmony and peace. In the 1960s, a Vietnamese poet and writer suggested that American leaders might have reconsidered military intervention in Vietnam had they read "The Tale of Kieu" .

"The Tale of Kieu" is the embodiment of the Vietnamese soul.

"To the Vietnamese people themselves, "The Tale of Kieu" is much more that just a glorious heirloom from their literary past. It has become a kind of continuing emotional laboratory in which all the great and timeless issues of personal morality and political obligation are tested and resolved (or left unresolved) for each new generation. "The Tale of Kieu" defines the boundaries of modern Vietnamese culture. It is necessary reading or viewing for anyone who would hope to understand the Vietnamese unique worldview."

As Nguyen Dinh Hoa from the Washington Post once said, I share the belief that the diffusion and promotion of "The Tale of Kieu", “Vietnam’s national poem will contribute to a better understanding of the people of Vietnam and of their traumatic experience in death and war, in exodus and separation.” It should be spread at large and known by anyone who want to understand the heart and mind of the Vietnamese people.

As Xuan-Phuc and Xuan-Viet, Gallimard/Unesco, also said: “With this masterpiece, Nguyên Du consecrated his mother tongue as a poetical language of an extraordinary delicacy, power and richness. He also gave to the soul of his fatherland a sensitive and prestigious mirror in which its eternal image, evolving throughout the centuries and in changing settings, is reflected.“

Beside this, I strongly believe that "The Tale of Kieu" is a very ‘cinematic’ tale that can easily appeal to a very large audience, and not only to Vietnamese communities. It is a love story, an historical tale, as well as a philosophical parabola. All these ingredients can make it a popular film, entertaining and at the same time, profound and instructive.

"The Tale of Kieu" has universal resonance.

Everyone who watch the film can identify with Kieu, the main character. It tells us through the fate of Kieu of the fate of human beings along with its cruelties and injustice. The inspiration of Nguyen Du's was the inspiration of considering men's fate. How could men live in a society full of injustice and cruelties? This questioning is still highly relevant today.

Also, no film complying with international standards has ever been made on "The Tale of Kieu" nor has ever reached the international audience. It is now a unique opportunity for me, as Vietnamese, to give my own film version of Vietnam's national treasure on behalf of all Vietnamese and share it with the world.

Latest news - project status:

The film is under preparation. I have already met several producers that are interested in the project. Though nothing has been signed yet, I hope to be able to shoot the film in Vietnam end of this year, 2007, maybe in Hue or near Hanoi.

Until now, all people in the cinema industry that I've met have been very supportive of the film. It's very encouraging.

To finalize the production, I plan to go back to the United States (Los Angeles, Houston and New York) in the coming months. If you'd like to meet me there, please don't hesitate to contact me so that we can arrange an appointment.

At this moment, I'm still writing and rewriting the final version of the script, doing a lot of researchs about Vietnamese culture and history.

I've also started to create my "dream team", approaching potential key members, actors and technical advisors for the film:

- The best-known Vietnamese actress Kieu Chinh ( “The Joy Luck Club” by Wayne Wang, produced by Oliver Stone) has already agreed to star in the film, as the narrator of the story and one of the main character. Kieu Chinh’s name and image have been seen in more than 100 films and TV movies. In 1996, she was honored by The Academy of Television Arts and Science® for the Emmy-award winning documentary, « Kieu Chinh: A Journey Home » (Fox TV).

- Nara Keo Kosal, a respected cinematographer, has also accepted to join our team, once the budget completed. Nara Keo Kosal has worked all over the world as Director of Photography for several award-winning long feature films. He is specially known for his striking photography of the French film “Western”, a critically acclaimed winner of the prestigious Jury Prize in Cannes International Films Festival in 1997. He is also a Jury member of Vesoul Asian Films Festival for the Netpac awards 2005.

- As a fervent supporter of the film project from the very beginning, the famous Vietnamese writer and philosopher Pham Cong Thien whose books were multiple best-sellers in Vietnam has also accepted to serve as a literary, cultural and historical adviser on the film. He will bring his rare expertise and extensive knowledge of the original novel and shed light on Nguyen Du’s underlying cultural, philosophical and spiritual statements. As it is my primary concern to preserve the profound meaning of Nguyen Du’s masterpiece in the film version, the participation of Pham Cong Thien as our literary expert will ensure that the film fully respects in the most accurate way the essence of the original book. As an eminent scholar in ancient vietnamese language and epistemology, Pham Cong Thien will also provide assistance in the translation work of the verse dialogues of the film.

As complementary resources, the historical researchs and works of translator Huynh Sanh Thông from Yale University and Dr. Alexander B. Woodside will serve as reference works for the film’s historical and social background.

- "The Tale of Kieu" being an epic and an historical drama set during the feudal times in Asia, costumes design will obviously be a majour contributor of the film success. The ideal person to handle this essential task would be Ha Nguyen, an accomplished fashion designer and Hollywood chief-costumer that worked with Jim Carrey, Mel Gibson, Jet Li, John Travolta, etc. for big studio films such as “The Mask”, “Heaven and Earth”, “Lethal Weapon 4” or “Swordfish”. She was recently featured by Saigon TV as one the most successful Vietnamese American women in America. She is also my aunt. Since she is very busy, I haven't got her agreement yet to help me in "The Tale of Kieu" but I will try to convince her during my next trip to Hollywood.

- Tom Cross, a high-calibre professional editor accustomed to Hollywood quality standards, may also join the team in order to ensure that the film editing, rythm and visual pace will comply with international requirements. His duty will be to make the film as entertaining and energetic as possible to appeal to the largest possible audience, from East to West. Tom Cross has done in-depth editing works for Ang Lee’s “Ride with the Devil” (starring Tobey Maguire) Eliza Dushku’s horror movie, “Wrong Turn”, and the Emmy award-winning TV-series, “Deadwood” (HBO).

- As traditional Vietnamese music plays an important role in the film, I will ask Vietnamese classical music composers, Le Khac Thanh Hoai and Ton That Tiet to work as a tandem on the film soundtrack. Vietnamese musician Le Khac Thanh Hoai, from the Music Conservatory of Hue (Central Vietnam) has already agreed to compose the main themes while Ton That Tiet may create the musical ambiance of the film. A well-known music composer, Ton That Tiet has already worked as a composer for Tran Anh Hung’s critically acclaimed and award-winning films such as “The Scent of the Green Papaya” (Gold Camera Prize at Cannes International Film Festival), “Cyclo” (Gold Lion at the Mostra of Venice) and “Vertical Ray of the Sun”, his last film.


To get further information on "The Tale of Kieu" film project, obtain the final script (in English or in French), take part in the production or join the cast, please feel free to contact me. Thank you.

If you are an actor or an actress (asian looking) and feel interested in playing in the film, please also contact me as soon as possible. Beforehand, I invite you to go through the Casting section on this website to know more about the main character (Kieu). Thank you very much for your interest in "The Tale of Kieu".

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