Vietnam sex workers film a hit
A Vietnamese film about sex workers is drawing record
audiences, despite the Communist government's ban on
so-called "social evils".
Now showing in Ho Chi Minh City, the film - Gai Nhay or Bar Girls -
tells a tragic story about a group of young and mostly poor bar
girls involved in sex, drug abuse and finally murder.
It also contains dramatic scenes when several of the young
women reveal they have contracted HIV/Aids.
Cinemas in Ho Chi Minh City have increased the number of daily
screenings of the film Gai Nhay or Bar Girls to cope with the
demands of local audiences.
The manager of the Diamond Cinema, Byun Sang Gil, has
increased showings to six a day in response to demand from a
public which he says is fascinated to learn about the life of the
bar dancers.
Taboo subjects
Although prostitution and drug use are major social problems in
Vietnam, it is largely taboo to debate the issues involved.
The ruling Communist authorities deal with the related public
health problems in the same basket as criminal behaviours.
The film's director, Le Hoang, has said he hopes the film will turn
young people away from vice.
To prepare for their roles, the actresses visited bars and what
Vietnam euphemistically calls "drug rehabilitation centres".
The story follows a journalist trying to write a story about a
group of friends whose lives turn for the worse as they sink
deeper into sex and heroin and eventually contract the virus
which can lead to Aids.
Tragic endings
One dies from an overdose and the others retaliate by murdering
their pimp.
The film closes when one of the bar girls finally meets her Mr
Right but discovers she has the virus.
According to the state media, Bar Girls was produced by the state
production company, Liberation Film, which spent a record $4,000
on advertising.
Unlike the Hollywood production of The Quiet American which was
released recently here, this film has so far not appeared on pirate
disks in the city markets.
That is a good sign for continuing success when it is released in
the capital Hanoi next week.
By Clare Arthurs - BBC News service - February 27, 2003.
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