Famous HIV activist stars in new local film

by Hoang Ha

HCM CITY -- Pham Thi Hue, featured in Time magazine's issue about Asian Heroes in 2004, has just wrapped up the shooting of a new film in which she stars as an HIV-infected prostitute.

The film director Vinh Khuong said Hue was the world's first HIV-infected person to play such a role.

In the film, Hue, 31, plays the role of Thu who struggles to live with the disease and, at the same time, bring up her mentally ill younger sister. They both live in HCM City's Binh Hung Hoa Cemetery.

In the film, her sister, after being raped by a group of boys, runs across a railway track in a panic and is hit and killed by a train.

Unable to bear the loss, Thu jumps off Binh Loi Bridge with the hope that she can reunite with the souls of her mother and sister.

Wandering on the land of the earth, the ghost of Thu witnesses the life of a deaf and mute 70-year-old man, who was formerly rich.

She realises that even wealthy people are not happy if they are greedy or selfish.

"The film focuses on spiritual issues and is a new way of disseminating information about HIV/AIDS prevention that helps people live fuller lives," Khuong said.

Khuong said it took him seven years to collect funds and an additional two years to find actors for Sieu thoat (Salvation).

"Some actors initially hesitated to act with a person with HIV," Khuong said. "However, the humane script of Sieu thoat finally persuaded them."

"After shooting the last scene, Hue was hospitalised for a week. I am really touched by her efforts," Khuong added. - VNS

To be updated