Director Nguyen Pham Thanh Dat Brings a Bold Vision to Vietnamese Cinema with Indie-Infused Feature Debut Bo Sua Bay in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City played host to the official premiere of the highly anticipated feature film Bo Sua Bay (The Flying Milk Cow), marking the directorial debut of Nguyen Pham Thanh Dat following his acclaimed work in short films such as Tan Sua (Fresh Milk) and An Ca Ga (Eating Chicken). Held on the afternoon of November 3, the premiere brought together a star-studded cast and crew, drawing substantial attention from industry professionals and cinema enthusiasts alike. The film features a diverse ensemble cast comprising veteran and rising talents including Nguyen Hung, Vo Dien Gia Huy, Ngoc Xuan, Miss Tieu Vy, Lanh Thanh, and Huy Tit. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of the Moc Chau dairy farm during the 1990s, the movie explores a whimsical yet compelling narrative about a group of workers—specifically the Trau brothers, portrayed by Nguyen Hung—who plot to steal a revolutionary, potentially healing milk formula.

A Distinctive Vision Bridging History and Speculative Fiction

At its core, Bo Sua Bay has been widely characterized by critics and industry observers as carrying a distinct, independent artistic signature unique to director Nguyen Pham Thanh Dat. Rather than opting for a straightforward historical reenactment or a purely realistic portrayal of life on the Moc Chau dairy farm, Dat chose to weave historical elements with speculative fiction and magical realism. This creative decision allowed him to construct a cinematic world that feels entirely detached from conventional rural dramas.

Discussing the origins of his project during the post-screening Q&A session, Dat explained that the film draws broad inspiration from the social, economic, and aesthetic atmosphere of Vietnam during the 1990s.

"Bo Sua Bay takes inspiration from the events, settings, and visual styles of the 1990s. From there, I had to find a way to still tell a story infused with historical humor while incorporating science fiction and magical realism elements into the film," Dat shared.

Because the director was not yet born during this specific era, he undertook extensive preparatory research. He sought out individuals who lived and worked on the Moc Chau farm during that decade to understand their daily routines, professional responsibilities, attire, and personal anecdotes. This commitment to cultural authenticity served as the foundation for the film’s surreal narrative layers. Furthermore, addressing the perennial cinematic dilemma of balancing personal artistic expression with commercial viability, Dat noted that this was a question he deliberated over the course of several years before ultimately committing to a product that remains unapologetically fresh and unconventional.

Rigorous Preparation and Behind-the-Scenes Challenges for the Cast

The production of Bo Sua Bay demanded significant physical and artistic transformations from its lead actors, many of whom faced rigorous training schedules to accurately embody their characters. For actress Ngoc Xuan, who plays the pivotal role of San, the project required mastering a multitude of new skills, ranging from adopting a Northern Vietnamese dialect and vocal performance to operating heavy trucks and executing complex wire-work stunts at heights.

A particularly memorable hurdle involved a festive musical sequence. Initially, Xuan was thrilled at the prospect of singing live on camera during a celebratory banquet scene. However, the technical realities of filmmaking intervened. The execution of multiple continuous camera angles caused the microphone battery to fail precisely at the peak of her emotional delivery. Consequently, the live recording was deemed unusable, forcing the production to rely on studio post-production audio.

"Actually, my singing voice—even though it is a studio recording—required three to four months of painstaking work just to complete that super-short segment in the film," Xuan revealed. Another major trial for the actress involved overcoming her fear of heights while filming the fantastical sequences where her character San and Trau take flight.

Meanwhile, singer Nguyen Hung faced acute psychological pressure stepping into his first major cinematic leading role. He confessed to harboring persistent anxieties regarding his ability to handle complex action sequences, emotional dialogue, and the rigorous requirement of portraying a character through a completely foreign vocal cadence.

Vo Dien Gia Huy encountered a different set of technical hurdles, primarily involving vehicular operations. Having recently learned to drive standard automobiles following his role in Chi Nhat Em Bat Chia Tay (Promise Me We’ll Break Up), Huy found himself forced to master manual-transmission vehicles and large trucks to fulfill the demands of his character.

"In this film, I had to practice driving a completely new type of vehicle—a manual transmission car—and there were days when I practiced driving a truck as well, which made the initial period extremely difficult," Huy explained. For a high-stakes pursuit sequence featuring complex mountain curves, the actor underwent numerous rigorous practice sessions along treacherous routes over a three-week period, ultimately achieving near-complete familiarity with the challenging terrain.

Immersive Local Experiences and On-Set Camaraderie

Lanh Thanh, another prominent member of the ensemble, reflected warmly on his second visit to Moc Chau, noting that the production provided an exceptional opportunity to deeply explore the local geography and culture.

"What I remember most, aside from the shared memories with everyone, is how close the land and people of Moc Chau are. Filming this project allowed me to explore deeper into Moc Chau and make many new friends," he shared. The actor recounted how local residents frequently guided the cast to sprawling organic vegetable gardens and introduced them to specialized sturgeon farms operating at low temperatures between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius, where they would catch fish directly for communal meals.

Adding a touch of humor to the press conference, Lanh Thanh lightheartedly teased his co-stars Nguyen Hung and Vo Dien Gia Huy regarding the film’s intense physical altercations.

"Both of them hit each other, yet each claimed they were the one who got beaten! Actually, the physical action scenes looked quite brutal and exhausting, but the filming process was remarkably smooth and successful," he added with a smile.

Implications and Outlook for Independent-Commercial Hybrid Cinema in Vietnam

The premiere of Bo Sua Bay arrives at a critical juncture for the Vietnamese film industry, which has increasingly sought to balance commercial formulas with auteur-driven storytelling. By blending the historical textures of 1990s rural cooperatives with speculative narrative elements, Nguyen Pham Thanh Dat’s debut challenges conventional audience expectations and expands the boundaries of domestic genre filmmaking.

Industry analysts view projects of this nature as essential testing grounds for diversifying Vietnamese cinema beyond conventional romantic comedies and action thrillers. The substantial investment in physical preparation, authentic regional immersion, and distinct artistic direction signals a growing confidence among emerging filmmakers to pursue unconventional visions. As Bo Sua Bay prepares for its nationwide theatrical release, its performance at the box office will serve as an important barometer for how contemporary Vietnamese audiences respond to hybrid cinematic experiences that merge local history with magical realism.