Vietnamese movie to hit US cinemas

By Hoang Dung March 21, 2022 | 12:05 am PT

A still from 'Sam Hoi'. Photo courtesy of VSABV films

‘Sam Hoi’ (The Living Sandbag) will be screened in theaters in the U.S. from March 24 after failing to attract moviegoers in Vietnam earlier this year.

When released in January 2021 the movie earned a mere VND1.3 billion (over $56,800). It had cost VND50 billion to make, according to Indian-Vietnamese producer Ramani Raja.

Initially he had planned to release the film in India, Canada and the U.S., but due to the pandemic it had to be postponed until now, he said.

The movie is about a couple living happily with their daughter until an unexpected event occurs. Then, pushed to the brink of bankruptcy, the man has to return to martial arts to support his family.

According to many viewers, the fight sequences in the movie were too dramatic, and too many characters made the film dense and difficult to follow.

Directed by famous Vietnamese-Indian stunt choreographer Peter Hein, it was filmed in India over two years but features a number of Vietnamese artists.