Khương Mễ
Camera
Biography
Merited Artist Khương Mễ (15th July 1916 - 15th June 2004) was a Vietnamese cinematographer and documentarist. Hailed as “the Lumière of Đồng Tháp Mười”, he is one of the greatest and most influential figures in early Vietnamese cinema as well as the person who laid the foundation for filmmaking in post-war South Vietnam. During the 60s and 70s, he successfully developed a series of low-budget manual film printers, camera gadgets, film projectors along with editing and special effects techniques that allow feature and animated films to be made under the difficult financial condition of war-ridden Vietnam. After moving to North Vietnam in 1951, he became the chief cinematographer for his long-time collaborator Mai Lộc, with his most notable work being Vợ chồng A Phủ (1972), a classic of Vietnamese revolutionary cinema and widely considered one of the greatest Vietnamese film ever made. Following the liberation of Saigon, Khương Mễ moved back to the South where he worked at Giải Phóng studio as a producer and director; he also occasionally took some small roles in commercial films. In 1976, he directed “Cô Nhíp” for Ho Chi Minh City Television - the first film to broadcast on the channel. He retired in 1985, though he continued to write essays , give lectures and filmmaking consultancy until 2002. He passed away in 2004 at the age of 89.
Known For
To pay off her family’s debts, Mị is forced to marry the son of her Hmong village’s ruthless patriarch. When the constant abuse and beatings become unbearable for the young girl, she plans to escape with a stranger held captive by her husband.
A Phu and His Wife
A police officer receives a worn-out and traumatised woman who begs him to take actions against a ruthless man that ruined her life, and only gives his moniker, Tín Mã Nàm, meaning “crazy horse” in Cantonese. As the officer sets out to search for Tín Mã Nàm, a network of intricate crimes, espionage and bloody murders beyond his imagination begins to unfold.
The Secrets Beneath
In mid-1960s, groups of American paratroopers arrive at a Hmong village near the Vietnam-Laos border. Among the troops are former villagers who collaborated with the French; having returned home , they seek to win over the village’s support.
Fire in the Woods
Two North Vietnamese soldiers are assigned to guard the entry gate at the 17th parallel demilitarised zone, and quickly acquaint themselves with the other side’s chief guard.
At the 17th Parallel
No description available.
Two Soldiers
Hai Cũ, a notorious outlaw robbing from the rich to give to the poor, writes to Hồ Chí Minh hoping to secure pardon for his subordinates and is then sent to work as a foreman for a military company. The company's officer turns out to be the student who has accidentally helped him to escape the police many years ago.
Portrait of a Foreman
The year 1963 drags on heavily. Rumors about the US-backed coup are spreading. Ngo Dinh Diem's government continues to suffer from a severe loss of popularity that is still worsening. Two lots of trafficked drugs from the Golden Triangle to South Vietnam have vanished into thin air. Luan sets out on what may be his final collaboration with Ngo Dinh Nhu.
Cards on the Table: Wreath on the Grave
A film adaptation of the legend of Princess My Chau
The Legend of My Chau
The conflict between a group of workers and the manager as they struggle to maximize the production in a cement factory in the 60s