Vietnam, China to produce film about Ho Chi Minh

      A film about Ho Chi Minh, Hanh trinh qua ba be (Journey across three oceans), will be made by Chinese producer Zhu Jiang and the Vietnam Writers’ Association, at cost of VND15 billion (US$833,000).
Zhu Jiang is on the hunt for a director and an actor to play the leading role of Nguyen Ai Quoc – Nguyen the Patriot, an early alias of Ho Chi Minh.
The film will be screened on May 19, 2010 to mark Ho Chi Minh’s 120th birth (May 19).
After the film “Nguyen Ai Quoc o Hong Kong” (Nguyen Ai Quoc in Hong Kong) was screened six years ago, Vietnamese and Chinese film producers always intended to film a sequel.
The Vietnam Writers’ Association wrote the film script and translated it into Chinese. Afterward, Jiang and Gia Phi, a Chinese scriptwriter, edited the original story. It was finally perfected after work from two authors Ha Pham Phu and Le Ngoc Minh.
The film depicts historical events and activities on Uncle Ho’s voyage from Hong Kong to Shanghai and Xiamen.
Ha Pham Phu, one of the authors, said for such a multinational collaboration, a director needs to be found who can work well with numerous people to produce a quality film.
Two Chinese directors, Nguyen Khac Loi and Vien The Ky, directed the original Ai Quoc film.
Actor Tran Luc played Nguyen Ai Quoc in that film, however, he is unavailable for the sequel, Mr. Phu said.
Filming is expected to start in July and finish January, 2010, in time for Ho Chi Minh’s 120th birthday.