HA NOI Spanish and Vietnamese actors yesterday performed together in the play Take My Eyes at the Ha Noi Opera House.
The play was performed by Spanish actress Gabriela Flores and Viet Nam Drama Theatre actors including Mai Huong, Lam Tung, Minh Hieu and Thu Theu. The stage was designed by painter Paco Azorin.
Director Carme Portaceli transformed the piece from director Iciar Bollain s film, and she also wrote the script, together with Alicia Luna. The film was released for the first time in Spain in 2003, and saw both audience and critical success. The film won seven Spanish Goya awards, including best film and best direction, and was also selected in the International Film festival of Donostia-San Sebastian, where it won awards for best actress and actor.
The play searches to understand this fear that erases the individual capacity of a person. It talks about the good decisions, about the lack of faith in hard moments and beyond this about the weaknesses of the strong and the strengths of the weak. The story goes beyond a simple case of domestic violence; it speaks about the behaviour of society as well. It deals with the subject in all of its complexity, showing the reasons and behaviours that help us have a whole and full vision of the theme.
With its aim to raise awareness of the problem of domestic violence, the piece suggests alternatives for preventing and exceeding gender inequality through self-consciousness and women s empowerment.
The director considered the project a challenge that gave her a chance to bring to a different country and different culture "such an important issue all over the world".
It will be a unique staging, open to everybody, as there will be subtitles in Vietnamese, Spanish and English. It will be an opportunity to see the things that have been hidden away from sight, to see these kept secrets.
The play will be performed on Sunday and next Monday, serving Vietnamese students who are learning Spanish and the Viet Nam Women s Union.
The Spanish Ministry of Culture, the International Scenic Factory (Factoria Escenica Internacional), the Spanish Institute for Stage, Arts and Music, the Spanish Embassy in Viet Nam, the Dramatic National Theatre of Viet Nam and the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will co-operate to hold the performances. VNS