Le Van, a renowned Vietnamese actress, shines in the 1984 film “When Will October Arrive?”. This film, directed by the renowned artist NSND Dang Nhat Minh, is a landmark in Vietnamese cinema.
(Photo: Screenshot)
The film has garnered numerous accolades, including recognition as one of Asia’s top 18 films, selected by CNN. It also received an array of prestigious awards, including a special prize at the 1989 Asia-Pacific International Film Festival, a commendation from the Peace Protection Committee at the 1985 Moscow International Film Festival, a special jury prize at the 1985 Hawaii International Film Festival, and a ranking within the top 100 Southeast Asian films by Letterboxd.com.
The film centers on Duyen (played by Le Van), a woman who visits her husband at the Southern battlefield but receives tragic news of his death.
Consumed by grief, she falls from a boat into the river, but is rescued by the teacher Khang (NSUT Huu Mui). To prevent her family from collapsing, Duyen secretly hides her husband’s death and requests Khang to act as a husband figure and write letters on her behalf.
Moved by Duyen’s unwavering spirit, Khang develops feelings for her, which are unfortunately discovered by her sister-in-law. This revelation forces Khang to move, leaving Duyen to bear her sorrow in silence.
Le Van and her co-stars deliver a deeply moving performance, portraying not only the pain of war but also the profound human values that resonate with audiences.
Born in 1958 in Hanoi to a family of artists, Le Van’s father, NSND Tran Tien, and her mother, NSUT Le Mai, were also talented actors. Her uncle, NSND Le Chuc, and two sisters, NSND Le Khanh and the dancer Le Vi, were also prominent figures in the arts.
Although her early career was in dance, Le Van transitioned into film, starring in numerous productions like “Chom and Sa,” “The Daughter-in-Law,” and “Long Tri Night Festival.”
Her performance as Duyen in “When Will October Arrive?” is considered her breakthrough role. Through her masterful and professional acting, she vividly portrays a Vietnamese woman, embodying compassion, loyalty, and self-sacrifice.
This role earned her the Best Actress award at the 1985 Vietnamese Film Festival.
Le Van herself stated that Duyen was her most cherished role, noting that, “In performance, I couldn’t distinguish between reality and the film’s narrative.”
In an interview, Dang Luu Viet Bao praised Le Van for her “dancer’s physique, Vietnamese features, expressive, and glistening eyes.” She was also praised for her intelligence, dialogue memorization, and proactive acting style.
Following several successful films, Le Van seemingly faded from the Vietnamese film scene.
In 2006, she made a surprising return with her autobiography, “Le Van – Loving and Living.” This autobiography created controversy with its personal details concerning her family, leading to a more private and reserved life.
In a recent interview, she expressed contentment with a more ordinary life, despite the absence of the limelight.
(Photo: Facebook profile)
At 67, Le Van leads a private life, focusing on family and caring for her mother, Le Mai.
Despite a remarkable career, Le Van’s personal life has been marked by three marriages.
Her first marriage lasted only 14 days. In that era, the state did not provide housing for unmarried individuals, so she married to gain housing assistance for her husband. However, she quickly realized she had no feelings for her husband and initiated a divorce.
Her second marriage was to a French-Vietnamese with three children from a previous relationship. After ten years together, their relationship cooled, leading to their separation.
Her third husband, Abraham, is Dutch. They had two children and eventually settled abroad before returning to live in Vietnam.
“In the past, I did not believe in the word ‘happiness’ because I was confined to a very narrow, couple-oriented perspective. Now, I realize that happiness is much larger than that; it involves loving and sharing,” she shared.
Speaking with Dân trí reporters, Le Mai, Le Van’s mother, shared that Le Van now lives with her husband and children in Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Hanoi. She regularly visits her mother.
“Le Van and her son visit me in Phan Dinh Phung Street every afternoon, and we chat. When I crave something delicious, my grandson always drives me to enjoy it. Le Van is discreet and avoids publicity. Despite the controversy surrounding her autobiography, our family experienced no turmoil,” Mrs. Le Mai explained.
Mrs. Le Mai further stated that although Le Van’s husband has lived in Vietnam for a long time, he doesn’t speak Vietnamese. They communicate through Le Van and her children.
Mrs. Le Mai also mentioned that her son-in-laws (Le Van’s and Le Vi’s husbands, both French) have resided in Vietnam for many years, demonstrating understanding of Vietnamese culture and etiquette.
She and her two daughters, Le Van and Le Khanh, have maintained the tradition of making their own bánh (Vietnamese sweets) and bánh chưng (Vietnamese rice cake). This tradition is ingrained in their family values.
(Photo: Facebook profile)
“Le Van is the eldest daughter, and she has carried a great deal of responsibility. After much hardship, Le Van now enjoys a peaceful life with her husband and children. Her husband takes good care of her and she has obedient children. Whenever Le Khanh is out of town, Le Van takes care of and assists her mother without hesitation,” Mrs. Le Mai said.
