Ghost Lamp - a new breeze of Vietnamese cinema

(Fatherland) - Ghost Lamp is not loudly promoted, has no tricks to attract customers, but still stands firmly at the top of the box office rankings. What makes this work so attractive?

National identity in a unique spiritual film

Entering the cinema, the audience not only watched a movie but also witnessed the transformation of Vietnamese cinema. Inspired by the legend of the Nam Xuong girl in Nguyen Du's Legend of the Dead, The Ghost Lamp is not only a horror film, but also a journey to discover Vietnamese cultural identity. Director Hoang Nam skillfully combined spiritual elements with traditional values ​​to create a story that is both haunting and deeply humane.

Movie poster

The film's setting is elaborately constructed with majestic landmarks of the North, especially Cao Bang . The picturesque frames, light and color in the film create a mysterious yet realistic space, highlighting the ancient setting and traditional rituals.

In a context where commercial cinema is increasingly dominated by temporary entertainment trends, Ghost Lights appears as a testament to the seriousness and thorough investment in artistic creation. Director Hoang Nam – a filmmaker originating from the field of content creation on YouTube – was not afraid to take risks when he devoted all his passion and personal finances to making this work.

The film's meticulousness is shown through every frame, from the art design, costumes to music . The film's color is considered excellent, creating a realistic feeling but still has its own cinematic quality. The soundtrack, especially in the first half, is reasonably restrained, contributing to building a mysterious atmosphere.

Mother and son Linh - playing soccer based on the original story of a girl from Nam Xuong

Let quality speak

Not only conquering the audience, Ghost Light also received many compliments from the most demanding film critics. Director Dinh Tuan Vu - who won the Golden Kite Award commented: "This film was made very carefully and meticulously. It is not easy to have a horror work with spiritual colors that is invested seriously like that."

Critic Le Hong Lam – one of the most influential people in the film industry – highly appreciated director Hoang Nam’s skills, even stating that Dark Souls has clear cinematic ambitions and is worth looking forward to. He emphasized: “Set design, costumes, filming, editing – all show the hard work and dedication of the crew. This is a good sign for Vietnamese cinema.”

Ancestral altar according to Vietnamese cultural tradition

Besides, actor Vu Duc Hai - a familiar face in Vietnamese cinema - also expressed surprise at the quality of the film: "The film has a tight rhythm, an easy-to-understand storyline and beautiful images. This is truly a commendable product."

Despite its unexpected success, Ghost Lights still received mixed reviews. A new film, without familiar box office faces, not relying on media gimmicks but still creating a strong appeal – that made this work the center of debate. However, in the end, the real power still lies with the audience.

The explosion of Ghost Lights is a clear proof that Vietnamese audiences are becoming more and more critical about the quality of films. They are no longer easily carried away by promotional gimmicks but are gradually turning towards works with depth and real artistic value.

Scene of a spiritual ritual in the movie

Vietnamese cinema needs films like Dark Souls – works that are full of identity, respect the audience and put quality first. And to maintain a healthy cinema environment, we need the audience’s fairness, support from media units and the right direction from cultural management levels.

Let quality speak and let Vietnamese cinema confidently step out into the world!

Source: https://toquoc.vn/den-am-hon-con-gio-moi-cua-dien-anh-viet-20250212195952933.htm