Bui Thac Chuyen: "Tunnel" earned 172 billion VND, broke even, no Oscar illusions

The film Tunnels: Sun in the Dark by director Bui Thac Chuyen has ended. After 2 months of showing at Vietnamese cinemas, the film achieved impressive revenue of more than 172 billion VND (according to data from Box Office Vietnam ).

This is a proud milestone, making The Tunnels the most popular war and historical film in the history of Vietnamese cinema. However, at the 3rd Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF III), which took place until July 5, The Tunnels was not included in the list of competing films.

Instead, director Bui Thac Chuyen appeared as a judge for the Vietnamese Film Competition category. In a short interview with Dan Tri reporter , he shared the reason for the film's absence, the journey to break even, and the concerns in bringing Vietnamese cinema to the world .

Director Bui Thac Chuyen (middle) at the opening ceremony of the Da Nang Asian Film Festival, evening of June 29 (Photo: Organizing Committee).

In the list of Vietnamese films competing at DANAFF III this year, “Tunnels” is not included. Can you share the reason?

- After its release in Vietnam, the investors of the film Tunnels hope to send the film to several international film festivals.

However, some international film festivals require that the film meet the criteria of being an international film festival premiere.

This condition prevents the Tunnels from participating in DANAFF III, even though we really want to.

We hope that if there is a chance, the film will be selected next year, because according to regulations, films produced from May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025 and licensed for distribution in Vietnam are still eligible to compete.

Which international film festivals has "Tunnel" been sent to, sir?

- At the moment, I cannot reveal specifics because the selection process is still ongoing. The film has been submitted, but we have not received official feedback from the film festivals.

After more than 2 months of showing, the revenue of "Tunnel" is currently 172 billion VND. Has this number helped the film break even?

- The figure of 172 billion VND is a statistic from Box Office Vietnam , but in reality, the revenue to break even is a little lower. However, we have recovered the investment capital, and that is the most important thing.

From a carefully invested work facing the risk of loss, now it has broken even. How do you feel about reaching this milestone?

- I am really happy. With the movie Tunnels , for us, earning 172 billion VND is not a win anymore but a great win. However, the most important thing is not only the revenue, but the fact that the audience has received Tunnels in the spirit we wanted.

The Tunnels is not just a commercial product, it is also a cinematic work with a clear imprint of the filmmaker, expressing the artist's views, emotions and responsibility towards the nation's history.

It is a great joy for the film crew like us that the audience feels that emotion.

You once shared that “Tunnels” has a different approach compared to previous war films. Specifically, what is that difference for you?

- I always believe that revolutionary films are not less attractive, the problem lies in the way of storytelling.

With Tunnels , we chose a new direction, focusing on human factors, psychology and personal emotions in a historical context.

This is a genre that is difficult to find investment in, but I believe that after the success of Tunnels, investors will be encouraged to pay more attention to war and revolutionary films.

In the future, I hope to have better quality works that not only achieve good sales but are also deeply received by the audience.

Director Bui Thac Chuyen in an interview with Dan Tri reporter (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam ).

After its release, “Tunnels” received many positive reviews from experts, some said that your work could compete for an Oscar for foreign language film. What do you think about these comments?

- (Laughs) I always keep my cool in the face of compliments, without any illusions. Compliments only really have meaning when we fail, but if we succeed, it is important to look at things objectively.

I don't think The Tunnels will resonate with all international audiences. Being well received in Vietnam is one thing, but getting it out into the world is a completely different journey.

That means for Vietnamese films to reach international markets, more factors are needed besides artistic quality?

- Yes, it is not just about an excellent film. Just look at the Korean culinary exchange dinner at the Vietnam - Korea cinema night event within the framework of the Da Nang Asian Film Festival and you will see that it is not just an activity of the film industry.

Among them, there was the participation of the Ambassador of the Ministry of Agriculture, associations, film commissions, national promotion organizations... They together built the national brand through cinema.

There were even chefs introducing culinary culture, showing that every field contributes to Korea's image in the eyes of the international community.

Cinema is the opening door, but behind that are culture, tourism, diplomacy, economy - all must go together to create attraction for a country.

After 2 months of release, the movie "Tunnel" has a revenue of 172 billion VND (Photo: Provided by the film crew).

You mean that cinema needs to go with national branding to succeed internationally?

- Exactly. For a film to reach an international audience, the country must have a clear and attractive cultural identity. Cinema cannot shoulder the responsibility of promoting a country alone.

If foreign audiences don’t know anything about Vietnam, it’s hard for them to care about our war story. It’s like when you witness a street fight, if you know someone, you’ll be worried, but if you’re not involved, you’ll ignore it.

The same goes for international audiences. People from countries that have historically been associated with Vietnam, such as the United States, France, or South Korea, can easily be moved by watching The Tunnels . But audiences from Spain or South Africa, without understanding the historical context, are unlikely to empathize.

Are you concerned about how Vietnamese films can effectively reach international audiences?

- Yes. I think we need to be clear: To tell the story of Vietnam to the world, we must first make them care about Vietnam.

Love of country helps Vietnamese people deeply feel the sacrifices of their fathers and grandfathers, but foreign audiences do not have that attachment.

For many, the Vietnam War is just a few lines in a textbook. Without a comprehensive and sustainable national brand, even the best films will have difficulty reaching the hearts of international audiences.

We need to take serious action to introduce Vietnam's image to the world, not only through cinema but also through culture, tourism, economy and diplomacy.

What advice do you have for young filmmakers looking to take their work international?

- Don't be under the illusion that a good film is enough. Cinema is a friendly medium, but for international audiences to accept it, they need to feel close to our country and culture.

Let’s focus on building sincere stories and taking advantage of every opportunity to promote Vietnam’s image. Only when Vietnam becomes an attractive destination in the eyes of the world will our stories truly have the power to spread.

Thanks director Bui Thac Chuyen for sharing!

Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giai-tri/bui-thac-chuyen-dia-dao-thu-172-ty-dong-hoa-von-khong-ao-tuong-oscar-20250701091029732.htm