Han Le is a young documentary filmmaker with a great love for 'Ao Dai' and Vietnamese culture. 'The Long Dress' is her latest project, to promote Vietnamese Ao Dai to the world.
Han Le shared that she felt a special connection with the 'Ao Dai' when she lived in Vietnam. That is why she wants to share the story of “ao dai” with the world. The film not only tells about the beautiful and elegant features of the 'Ao Dai', but also reflects the resilience and transformation of Vietnamese women through each historical period.
Filmed since last July, the documentary gathers a crew of both Vietnamese and international filmmakers. 'The Long Dress' revolves around three main characters from the US, UK and Vietnam, who share a love for the 'Ao Dai', including designer Thai Nguyen – a Vietnamese-American who was the first to bring the Vietnamese Ao Dai to the Oscar red carpet and young designer Anna Hoang, who always wants to combine the spirit of British-Vietnamese culture in her designs. The third person, a famous domestic Ao Dai designer, representing the connection between tradition and modernity, hasn't yet been revealed by Han Le.
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Filmmaker Han Le. |
The project is a journey to explore the “ao dai” as a symbol of the interaction between the past and the present and reflects Han Le's journey in preserving Vietnamese culture. She shared that “cultural expression is not only a way for individuals to discover themselves but also a link to connect communities and generations.”.
Alongside honouring the traditional beauty of the 'Ao Dai', the film also takes the audience to various cities and continents, from Vietnam to the UK, and the US, to meet with those of Vietnamese origin who are discovering the cultural identity of Vietnam through 'Ao Dai' again. With Thai Nguyen, an international designer who respects Vietnamese cultural heritage, to Anna Hoang, a young girl who started creating unique ao dai designs at 10.
The film also records the transformation of the 'Ao Dai' when it appeared at international fashion events, on the red carpet with Vietnamese artists such as Ali Wong.
Han Le said that the message of “The Long Dress” is that no matter how time changes, the 'Ao Dai' is still a living symbol of Vietnamese identity, connecting the past and the future, helping each person confidently express themselves.
“The Long Dress” is expected to be completed in July and will be promoted in Vietnam as well as around the world.
Han Le was born and raised in Hanoi, living and working in London, England. She graduated with a Master of Arts in Film Making from Goldsmiths, University of London.
She has engaged in many prestigious documentary projects around the world. Notably, she has directly worked with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the Future of Britain Conference 2022, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and leaders from major corporations, such as Tiktok, Planet, Khosla Ventures and Zero Avia. She has also made 15 interactive films for the British Science Museum.
For Han Le, filmmaking is not only an artistic creation but also a powerful way to promote understanding, connect cultures and empower communities. With this first documentary film 'The Long Dress' she said she hopes to honour the Vietnamese 'Ao Dai' and confirm the importance of preserving cultural identity in globalisation.
