Vietnamese-born director Tran Anh Hung attends premiere of his award-winning film in Vietnam

Vietnamese-born filmmaker Tran Anh Hung, accompanied by his wife Tran Nu Yen Khe, was present at the Vietnam premiere of his movie “The Pot-au-Feu,” which won him the Cannes Film Festival 2023 Best Director prize.

The couple made their appearance at the event on Tuesday evening, choosing monochrome outfits for the occasion. Hung was seen in a biker-style leather jacket, while Khe donned a backless spaghetti-strap dress.

“The Pot-au-Feu” is a film adaptation of the 1924 novel “La Vie et la Passion de Dodin-Bouffant, Gourmet” (The Passionate Epicure), set in the French countryside village of 1885. Its plot centers on Eugénie (portrayed by Juliette Binoche), a chef, and Dodin (played by Benoît Magimel), a culinary expert who is passionate about crafting exquisite and tasty meals.

Their relationship blossoms over the years of working together, yet Eugénie hesitates to marry. In a bid to win her affection, Dodin prepares a meal for her for the first time.

At 62, Hung is an alumnus of the esteemed École Louis-Lumière film school in France.

His film “The Scent of Green Papaya” from 1993 was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, marking it the sole Vietnamese-language film to receive an Academy Award nomination to date.

He was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for “Cyclo” in 1995.

His adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s renowned novel “Norwegian Wood” in 2010 was a contender for the Golden Lion as well.

Khe, 56, holds a degree in interior design from the prestigious private school École Camondo in France.

She received a nomination for Best Production Designer at the 2015 Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong.

Her sculpture “Borderline” became part of France’s Guimet Museum in 2019, representing the first contemporary art piece from Southeast Asia to be included in the French National Collection.

In Oct. 2023, she showcased her first solo exhibition in France, named “White Blank.”

In addition to her roles in her husband’s earlier films, Khe contributed as the art director and costume designer for “The Pot-au-Feu.” Her contributions in her husband’s works also include set designer for “Cyclo”, art and costume designer for “Norwegian Woods,” as well as production designer for “Eternity.”

The duo arrived an hour early to the film screening to interact and sign autographs for fans.

Hung said his wife, with her refined taste, quickly understood what the film needed. He gave the art and costume design team the liberty to creatively express themselves with minimal interference during the production.

By Que Chi & Thanh Tung – VnExpress.net – March 20, 2024