Web drama Cleaning Lady Learns to Love has become a phenomenon, capturing audience attention from its release to its conclusion. The film not only sparked controversy but also achieved impressive success with over 500 million views on online platforms.
stirred controversy and drew attention from viewers. (Image: Producer)
Plot and Controversies
Cleaning Lady Learns to Love tells the story of Đặng Mỹ Hằng (played by Thùy Trang), a wealthy middle-aged woman, and Nhật Duy (played by Đình Mạnh), a young chairman. Mỹ Hằng pretends to be a cleaner in her family’s hotel and accidentally rescues Nhật Duy from the “love trap” set by the spoiled Anh Thư (portrayed by Lê Triệu Vy). From there, they experience a fateful night and decide to marry, despite their age difference and family opposition.
This relationship becomes more complicated when Mỹ Hằng is revealed to have been friends with Nhật Duy’s parents, and his father once proposed to her but was rejected. These plot twists created significant conflicts and debates within the storyline.
Director’s Intentions
Director Trác Huỳnh Nhựt Tân shared that the film was initially produced for vertical viewing on Facebook and later adapted for horizontal viewing on YouTube. He also admitted that some elements were beyond his control.
“The fast-paced plot resolves one conflict only to introduce another. The dialogue is unrealistic and exaggerated, and the actors perform quickly and dramatically to keep viewers engaged due to the short runtime,” Nhựt Tân explained.
Dream and Message of the Film
According to Nhựt Tân, the entire story in Cleaning Lady Learns to Love is actually a dream experienced by the main character. This revelation is kept secret until the end of the film to surprise the audience. “What happens in this dream feels inappropriate yet normal and relatable from the perspective of a common laborer,” he shared.
Nhựt Tân emphasized that calling Đặng Mỹ Hằng “dumb” and the unrealistic plot elements were intentional to reflect the perspective of ordinary workers who do not have access to the upper class.
Audience and Expert Reactions
Communication expert Hồng Quang Minh believes that the controversies surrounding the film’s content are not deterrents but rather effective “hooks” to pique curiosity and spark discussions among viewers. He sees this as a typical trend in content consumption today, especially in Asian countries.
Nhựt Tân and the producers acknowledge the criticisms to improve future works. Their goal is to provide both entertainment and positive, meaningful values to audiences.
Conclusion
Cleaning Lady Learns to Love is not just a controversial film but also a successful entertainment product that has captured viewers’ attention. Despite its unrealistic plot and controversies, the film delivers profound messages about the perspective of ordinary workers. The director and producers hope to continue improving quality to create even more meaningful works in the future.
