HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Many filmmakers agree that HCM City is a good subject fora film but also acknowledge that it can be challenging tocapture the essence of the place well enough to impress audiences.

Rom and Sai Gon Trong Con Mua arethe latest movies set in HCM City. 

Sai Gon Trong Con Mua is director Le MinhHoang’s first film on which he has been working since 2018, according to NguoiLao Dong (Labourer) newspaper.

The movieis a story of love and dreams among young people from all over the countrywho happen to find each other and then lose each other in SaiGon (former name of HCM City). It is expected to be screened inOctober.

Manyfamiliar features of the city, including Honda Cub motorcycles, smallalleys, old awnings, and rain showers, can be seen in the film.

Thisis a rare movie that focuses on the rainy season, and is expected to enrich thecollection of movies about Sai Gon, experts have said.

Imagesof a friendly, rustic Sai Gon are featured in another movie called TroiSang Roi, Ta Ngu Di Thoi, directed by Chung Chi Cong.

Theaudience can experience the largest urban area in Vietnam under warm yellowlights at night and the stories of young adults who passionately pursue theirdreams and struggle on the path to success.

Oldbuildings, canals, church corners, Ben Thanh market and street cafes are someof the images of Troi Sang Roi, Ta Ngu Di Thoi, togetherwith the catchy indie music used in the movie.

Ona different note, while the film Co Ba Sai Gon, directed by TranBuu Loc and Kay Nguyen, chose ao dai (women's longrobes) as the main topic to cherish the old Sai Gon, the film Sai Gon,Anh Yeu Em, directed by Ly Minh Thang, Huynh Lap and La Quoc Hung, makesuse of many individual stories that share a common love for the city inwhich they live.

Thesetwo movies have received a lot of positive feedback from audiences.

Othergreat movies that have been embraced by viewers include Hon Ngoc Vien Dong, Hot Boy Noi Loan, Thang Cuoi, Co Gai Diem Va Con Vit, and HotBoy Noi Loan 2.

ThisJuly, the movie Rom is expected to hit theatres. Rom featuresstories of poor working people in HCM City. Even though the kids in Rom livedifficult lives, they always strive for their dreams. 

Manyprofessionals believe that as Hanoi and HCM City are landmarks of Vietnam,they deserve notable spots in literary and artistic works.

Eventhough Sai Gon in particular has been seen in various music, poetry andliterary pieces, there aren't many local movies successfully featuring thecity.

Itmight appear to be easy to make a film about the city,but the truth is that the spirit of Sai Gon is hard to depict.

“Moviesabout Sai Gon require producers to conduct in-depth research and genuinely lovethis land in order to tell a touching story,” journalist Cat Vu said, addingthat Hanoi has Ha Noi Mua Chim Lam To, but Sai Gonlacks cinematic pieces that live up to the sophisticated but charming SaiGon.

Accordingto producer and director Ly Minh Thang, Sai Gon has so much to talk about andthis has posed challenges for filmmakers. If they are not careful, their moviesmight come off appearing just as a compilation of things to love about Sai Gon. 

Inorder to avoid this, his team has focused on the love and warmth behindeach story of locals living in Sai Gon. Regardless of their age, the audiencecan find empathy and have the feeling that Sai Gon belongs to no onein particular, but that everyone has their own spot in this lovely city.

Despitemany challenges, filmmakers have stepped up efforts to portray Sai Gon/HCM City in its various colours. The audience has the right to expectlocal cinemas to produce more quality content about the city in thetime to come./.