Peach, Pho and Piano is one of two state-owned films included in the pilot distribution and dissemination plan for a number of films produced using the state budget issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The remaining film is Miss Hong Ha.

Currently, the National Cinema Center is the only location in the country showing these two state-run films.

Peach, Pho and Piano : An Unprecedented Phenomenon

Mr. Vu Duc Tung called the fact that audiences booked tickets to see Dao, Pho and Piano - a state-run film - causing the website of the National Cinema Center to crash "an unprecedented phenomenon".

As of noon on February 18, the center's website was still not back up and running.

According to plan, the two films will be officially released on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

From the first to the third day of Tet, the unit arranges the number of screenings normally. On average, each screening has an audience covering 1/3 to 1/2 of the theater.

"However, compared to Female writer Hong Ha , in the past few days, the movie Dao, Pho and Piano has been selling exceptionally well.

According to the media department's report, many audiences called on the center to open more screenings," Mr. Tung informed.

The acting director of the center added that at 1 a.m. on February 18, the media department, technical department, and the board of directors had to meet to discuss opening more screenings.

According to preliminary statistics on the morning of February 18, the theater welcomed nearly 400 audiences to watch Dao, Pho and Piano .

"Initially, the theater only opened three screenings, but due to high audience demand, the theater has now increased to 11 screenings. On February 19, it will open 15 screenings," Mr. Tung added. "With state-owned films, the theater will show them until there are no more audiences, at least a month."

Speaking with Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Vu Duc Tung also shared: "Since noon on February 17, all tickets for the movie Dao, Pho and Piano on Monday and Tuesday next week (ie February 19 and 20) have been sold out. Some viewers shared that this is the first time they have accepted to sit in the front row to watch a movie."

Positive signal

Talking about the balance between two hot films at the moment ( Mai - a private film and Dao, Pho and Piano - a state film), the representative of the National Cinema Center said that there should be no comparison because each film genre has different characteristics and tasks.

Mr. Tung said that Tran Thanh's movie Mai has been crowded with audiences since the second day of Tet. From 20 screenings, the theater had to increase to 30, now 50 screenings but still cannot meet the audience's demand.

"The public reaction and initial results from the film Dao, Pho and Piano are a positive sign.

I think if a state-owned film has quality, a script that fits the trend, and content that touches the viewers' emotions, it is completely possible to be released in theaters," said acting director Vu Duc Tung.

Is it true that the Cinema Department forced the Cinema Center to increase the screenings of the movie Dao, Pho and Piano as some netizens said?

Mr. Vu Duc Tung denied: "The center is not pressured by anything. The Department assigned the center to take the initiative in planning the whole thing.

There is no such thing as the government forcing more screenings of state films. When there is an audience, we will serve it, whether it is a commercial film or a state film."

He also added that in addition to feature films, the center also hopes to show cartoons ordered by the State to young audiences.