Mỹ Nhân Kế: A Film Review of Vietnam’s Contentious Hit

This 2013 Vietnamese historical action film serves as a cultural paradox – a financial triumph that generated 52 billion VND (tripling its 17 billion VND budget) amid scathing critical reception.

## Production Background and Ambitions https://mynhanke.net/

### Visionary Origins and Industry Context

Originally envisioned as *Chân Dài Hành Động* (Action Long Legs), the project represented the filmmaker’s ten-year vision to produce Vietnam’s equivalent to *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*. At a time when local cinema competed with foreign releases like *The Avengers* (47 billion VND) and *Transformers 3* (41 billion VND), the director aimed on capitalizing on cutting-edge 3D innovations while harnessing Vietnam’s growing middle-class theater attendance.

### Technical Innovations and Challenges

As the country’s follow-up 3D production after 2011’s *Đường Đua Kỳ Án*, the film innovated technological boundaries through:

1. **Location Scouting**: Utilizing Cam Ranh’s scenic backdrops in Khánh Hòa Province to create an engaging “Đường Sơn Quán” inn environment, with most footage captured on location using RED Epic cameras.

2. **Costume Design**: Revamping traditional four-flap dress with contemporary alterations and translucent fabrics, sparking debates about cultural preservation versus sexualization.

3. **Post-Production**: Outsourcing 3D conversion to South Korean studio Dexter Digital, known for work on *The Host*, at a cost consuming 23% of total budget.

## Narrative Structure and Character Dynamics

### Plot Architecture and Thematic Contradictions

Set in mythical Đại Việt, the story follows Kiều Thị (Thanh Hằng) overseeing a group of deadly entertainers who raid corrupt officials. The script introduces progressive elements like Linh Lan’s (Tăng Thanh Hà) LGBTQ+ storyline with Kiều Thị – Vietnam’s initial public LGBTQ+ representation in period films. However, critics noted tension between alleged feminist themes and the camera’s erotic attention on wet-shirted fight scenes and group bathing scenes.

### Character Development Shortcomings

Despite an stellar lineup, VnExpress critic Kỳ Phong observed characters appeared “as bland as rice paper”:

– **Kiều Thị**: Marketed as complex anti-heroine but reduced to blank stares without character nuance.

– **Linh Lan**: Tăng Thanh Hà’s evolution from romantic lead (*Dẫu Có Lỗi Lầm*) to combatant turned out disorienting, with stiff line delivery undermining her drive.

– **Mai Thị** (Diễm My 9x): The only character offered conclusion (expecting warrior) despite limited screen time.

## Technical Execution and Aesthetic Choices

### 3D Implementation: Promise vs Reality

While advertised as a groundbreaking innovation, the 3D effects elicited conflicting feedback:

– **Successful Applications**: visually stunning fight sequences in woodland environments and waterfall environments.

– **Technical Failures**: Poorly converted dialogue scenes with “flat” depth perception, particularly in dimly lit brothel interiors.

Interestingly, the 3D version accounted for only 38% of total screenings but produced 61% of revenue, implying audiences valued novelty over quality.

### Costume Design Controversies

Costume designer Lý Phương Đông’s contemporary interpretations sparked heated debates:

– **Innovations**: glittering fabric details on traditional silks, creating dazzling visuals under studio lighting.

– **Criticisms**: The Vietnam Fashion Association criticized low-cut designs as “cultural sacrilege” in a 2013 open letter.

Ironically, these controversial designs later influenced 2014 Áo Dài Festival collections, demonstrating commercial influence surpassing purist concerns.

## Cultural Impact and Box Office Phenomenon

### Tet Season Dominance

The film’s strategic Lunar New Year release leveraged holiday leisure spending, outshining competitors through:

– **Screening Density**: 18 daily showings per theater versus 12 for comedy-drama *Yêu Anh! Em Dám Không?*.

– **Pricing Strategy**: 120,000 VND 3D tickets (twice as much standard pricing) resulting in 63% higher per-screen revenue than 2012’s top film *Cưới Ngay Kẻo Lỡ*.

### Diaspora Engagement

Breaking Vietnam’s typical half-year overseas release delay, the film debuted in U.S. theaters within three months through Galaxy Studio’s alliance with AMC. While grossing modest $287,000 stateside, its expatriate reception motivated 2014’s *Tôi Thấy Hoa Vàng Trên Cỏ Xanh* expedited global distribution model.

## Critical Reception and Legacy

### Domestic Review Landscape

Major outlets divided opinions:

– **Praise**: Nhân Dân newspaper praised “bold technical achievements” while disregarding narrative flaws.

– **Censure**: VOV’s film critic Lê Hồng Lâm condemned it as “shallow entertainment” favoring star power over substance.

Notably, 68% of negative reviews came from older male reviewers versus 44% from female reviewers under 30 – suggesting demographic splits in assessing its feminist credentials.

### Enduring Industry Influence

Despite artistic shortcomings, *Mỹ Nhân Kế* established pivotal for:

1. **Theatrical Distribution**: Leading widespread theater rollouts across 32 provinces versus capital-focused prior models.

2. **Soundtrack Synergy**: Uyên Linh’s theme song *Chờ Người Nơi Ấy* dominated music charts for 14 weeks, setting cross-media promotion strategies.

3. **Actor Typecasting**: Fixating Thanh Hằng’s combative role leading to 2015’s *Người Truyền Giống* trilogy.

## Conclusion: Blockbuster Paradoxes

*Mỹ Nhân Kế* epitomizes Vietnam’s early 2010s cinematic evolution – a narratively experimental yet narratively flawed experiment that highlighted viewer preferences clashing critical frameworks. While its 52 billion VND earnings showcased local cinema’s commercial viability, subsequent industry shifts toward ethically focused dramas like *Cha Cõng Con* (2015) imply filmmakers adapted from its critical shortcomings. Nevertheless, the film stands essential viewing for understanding how Vietnamese cinema balanced globalized entertainment trends while asserting cultural identity during the country’s modernization era.