Hanoi [Vietnam], August 15: The drama "That Summer," currently airing during prime time, is attracting viewers' attention thanks to its youthful cast, natural interactions, and vibrant, youthful atmosphere.
That summer, the film captivated audiences thanks to its young cast, including Long Vũ , Lưu Ly, Ha Thanh, Nguyễn Trinh, and Hoang Hải. Beyond their attractive looks and age close to their characters, what made this group stand out was their naturalness, youthful energy, and ability to perfectly convey the spirit of youth.
Director Le Do Ngoc Linh's film chooses a rather familiar story: a group of close friends in their final year of high school, their first romantic feelings, an event that causes them to drift apart, and their reunion after nearly 10 years.
Before the story reaches its major events, the film's appeal stems primarily from small details: a test, the group's attempts to outsmart the teachers, their efforts to earn money for a friend, the awkward glances when holding hands for the first time, or seemingly trivial teasing that perfectly captures the psychology of adolescence. It is the young cast that brings these seemingly familiar elements to life.
When actors play the 'right age,' it helps make school-themed films more realistic.
One of the notable choices of that summer was boldly entrusting the youthful years to many very new faces: Khanh, Phương, Tùng, Ly, and Hoang were respectively given to Long Vũ, Lưu Ly, Ha Thanh, Nguyễn Trinh, and Hoang Hải (faces born between 2001 and 2005).
Director Le Do Ngoc Linh said that the team intentionally sought out young actors to capture the innocence in their eyes, emotions, and energy that suited the age of high school students. Among them, Luu Ly even took on her first leading role in a prime-time television drama .
This choice is proving quite effective. The school-themed scenes in the film don't give the impression that the adult actors are trying to "rejuvenate" themselves with uniforms, bangs, or mischievous antics. From their posture in class and arguments with friends to their awkwardness with first love, the cast feels closer to real student life.
Long Vũ has the most experience among the young cast. After making his mark as Chải in " Walking Amidst the Brilliant Sky ," the actor returns with Khanh - a lazy, mischievous but affectionate and loyal student from a well-off family in " That Summer ." Prior to this, Long Vũ had appeared in " The Small Path into Life," "The War Without Boundaries," "Not Afraid to Get Married Just for One Reason ," etc. Khanh still possesses a lively, carefree spirit that suits Long Vũ's strengths, but he's not a carbon copy of Chải. While Chải garnered attention for his naivety, straightforwardness, and somewhat "noisy" love, Khanh is placed within a group of urban friends, with family life and other responsibilities. Behind his playful exterior is a boy who cares for his friends, especially when Phương's family faces difficulties.
In episode 4, seeing Phuong's family facing financial pressure, Khanh, along with Ly and Hoang, tried many ways to help their friend. Khanh even deliberately abstained from his favorite foods, trying to draw his parents' attention to Phuong's situation, and then conspired with his friends to fabricate a story about poor grades to create an opportunity for the two mothers to meet. When he accidentally held Phuong's hand as the group ran away, that small act became the starting point for a change in the girl's feelings.
Source: Thanh Nein Newspaper