Seoul [South Korea], April 29: Released in theaters on April 24th, director Duc Thinh's film "Trùm So" (The Shell King) has to compete with a series of Vietnamese films at the box office, including "Phí Phong: Quỷ mau rừng thieng" (Phí Phong: The Blood Demon of the Sacred Forest), "Heo năm mong" (Five-Toothed Pig), "Đại tiệc trăng mau 8" (Blood Moon Party 8) , and "Anh Hùng" (Hero ).
According to statistics from Box Office Vietnam , Duc Thinh's comeback film only grossed about 5 billion VND after nearly 5 days in theaters. The film's revenue is somewhat inferior compared to other projects released at the same time.
During the three-day weekend of the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day holiday, Duc Thinh's film "Trùm So" (The Oyster King) grossed over 3 billion VND, accounting for approximately 3.3% of the total revenue, with over 29,000 tickets sold. This figure placed the film 5th on the box office chart. Meanwhile, the top four positions were held by "Heo năm mong" (30 billion VND), "Phí phong: Quỷ mau rừng thieng" (23.8 billion VND), "Anh Hùng" (12.3 billion VND), and "Đại tiệc trăng mau 8" (11.2 billion VND).
The return of Duc Thinh
"Trùm So" (The Oyster King) is a film marking the return of Duc Thinh after 6 years. In this comeback, he takes on three roles: director, lead actor, and co-screenwriter. The film revolves around the wealthy but stingy Oyster King. One day, after losing a large sum of gold, out of regret for the money, he impulsively participates in a robbery with his two childhood friends, Tom Hum and Thi Hen. Besides Duc Thinh, the film features a cast including Quang Minh, Phuong Nam, Mai Phuong, Tam Trieu Dang, Ngoc Trai, and others.
Duc Thinh shared that "Trum So" is a comedy film with folk elements, but he doesn't insist on strictly adhering to historical conventions. The director focuses on creating a relatable experience for the audience with the story in the film. He also expressed special thanks to artist Thanh Hien, because she gave him a genuine feeling of family affection. Duc Thinh confided that what the character says to his mother in the film is also something he cherishes in his heart to share with his own parents. Duc Thinh shared that one of the motivations for him to undertake this project was his wife. The director confessed: "Without Thuy, I wouldn't have been able to complete this project, I wouldn't have been able to return. I cried when I saw my wife standing there, waiting for over an hour for a star to invite her to play the role of the 'Oyster Boss,' only to be able to say a few perfunctory words. I think if I hadn't taken a six-year break from filmmaking due to a midlife crisis, my wife wouldn't have had such difficulty inviting actors. It was also because I loved my wife that I agreed to play the role of the 'Oyster Boss' and diligently lost weight to participate in the film."
According to Box Office Vietnam, the three-day weekend of the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day saw fierce competition among Vietnamese films. " The Five-Toothed Pig" continued the success of "The Demon Dog" and "The Spirit Cat" to top the charts, while "Phi Phong: The Blood Demon of the Sacred Forest" maintained its momentum for a second week, competing for the top two spots.
"However, this past weekend was just a warm-up for the fierce battle that will begin this Thursday, when audiences enter a four-day holiday," a representative from Box Office Vietnam shared.
Source: Thanhniem Newspaper
