A screen romance across social barriers
Vân Nhi plays Út, the daughter of a Giáy community chief, opposite Sỹ Hưng as Ba, a poor Nùng man. Their romance encounters prejudice, differences in status and obligations to their communities. Those identities and relationships belong to the fictional characters rather than the performers' private lives.
Vân Nhi said she went through three auditions and received help from the director and fellow performers. She described acting as a professional opportunity requiring preparation, rather than an extension of a beauty-pageant title. After filming, she enrolled in voice and breathing classes to address weaknesses she identified.
Cultural material shapes the production
Film Studio No. 1 produced the project with a cast including Tất Bình, Hoàng Hải, Nguyệt Hằng and Thanh Hương. Composer Trọng Đài developed the score from Giáy and Nùng folk and courtship-song material. Cultural specialists also contributed to the visual work.
The director described a state-commissioned production with a medium-level budget. Script preparation took about five to six months; the overall process through approval and introduction lasted nearly two years. Wider audience response remains ahead. The next announced step is broader presentation, with precise distribution arrangements still to be confirmed.