Specialty distributor 3388 Films has acquired international rights to “Bunny!!,” the latest hit from Vietnamese filmmaker and actor Tran Thanh. It will roll the title out across more than a dozen countries over the coming months.
The theatrical run kicks off in Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia on March 26, with the U.S., Canada, U.K., Norway and Poland following a day later. France joins in on March 28, while Mongolia and Taiwan are slated for May 22. Further markets are still being confirmed, Variety learned during Hong Kong FilMart.
The acquisition brings one of Asia’s most striking recent commercial success stories to global audiences. “Bunny!!” grossed upward of $16 million in Vietnam, finishing as the country’s top film of the year and placing among its five biggest titles ever. The result adds to a body of work that has made Thanh a singular figure in Vietnamese cinema: every film he has directed has crossed VND300 billion ($11.5 million) locally — a feat no other filmmaker in the market has achieved. That benchmark carries particular weight given that VND100 billion ($3.8 million) is widely considered a strong local performance. He now accounts for five of the 10 highest-grossing films in the country’s box office history.
What makes the achievement more notable is that “Bunny!!” defied the conventions of the Tet holiday season, when Vietnamese multiplexes traditionally fill with lighter fare. The film is a dark psychological thriller in which a celebrated host of a relationship advice program finds her meticulously maintained public image threatened by an encounter with a guest harboring unsettling secrets — a collision that sends both characters toward devastating revelations. The cast features Thanh alongside Phao, Lyly, Van Mai Huong, Quoc Anh, Vinh Dam, Phap Kieu, Ali Hoang Duong, Quang Thang, Thanh Lam, BB Tran, Dinh Ngoc Diep, Orange, Gil Le and Cris Phan.
For 3388 Films founder Thien A. Pham, the film’s willingness to swim against the seasonal tide was a key part of its appeal. “Tran Thanh dares to take risks,” Pham said, noting the unusual Tet holiday release date of the film. “‘Bunny!!’ is a dark romance drama, what we may say is counterprogramming; yet it was heavily favored by local audiences and the bet paid off tremendously, proving Tran Thanh has an uncanny pulse on his audience. At 3388 Films, we believe in risk-taking and pushing market boundaries, and we are thrilled to continue our fruitful collaboration with the producers to bring this film to a global audience.”
“Bunny!!” is produced by Tran Thanh Town, Galaxy Studio and HKFilm. The international release is handled by 3388 Films, whose recent Vietnamese titles include “Mai,” the first film from that country to cross the $2 million mark across North America and Europe combined.
Source: variety.com
