The Tailor (film)

In 1969, the tailor house Thanh Nu is considered to be the most famous tailor house in Saigon. Nine generations of the family have spent their entire life tailoring ao dai. The owner who is Thanh Mai has two daughters: Nhu Y who is her biological daughter and Thanh Loan who was adopted. Thanh Loan enjoys tailoring ao dai while Nhu Y prefers designing Westernized outfits, since she claims ao dai is old-fashioned and doesn't have variety of designs. Thanh Mai advises Nhu Y to focus on learning how to make ao dai but she neglects, because she only likes Western style. One day, Thanh Mai uses a unique piece of fabric passed down from her ancestor, to make a beautiful ao dai. Nhu Y sees it (due to her name is embroidered on that ao dai) and decides to try it on. Strange thing happens as soon as she tries it, the piece of jade sends her to the year of 2017.

Nhu Y falls on An Khanh (as Nhu Y in 2017) as she is about to attempt suicide, causing the piece of jade to detach from the ao dai. Nhu Y is shocked to know that the tailor house Thanh Nu has been closed and barely believes that An Khanh is her in the future, and how Saigon has become greatly modernized. Her house is empty and quiet. It's revealed that after Thanh Mai had died, Thanh Loan was told to leave the house by An Khanh so An Khanh could open a Western tailor house, however the business failed shortly afterward. This causes An Khanh to become an alcoholic. Thanh Loan opened her own business mainly focusing on tailoring ao dai, she later has two kids: Helen and Tuan. Helen is a famous fashion designer while Tuan is working at Helen's company.

Helen agrees to help An Khanh keep the house, however Nhu Y must work for her in exchange. Nhu Y works as a cleaner while Tuan helps her adapt to modern life. The company needs some 1960s inspired designs which is An Khanh's specialty so she helps Helen. Being impressed by Nhu Y's talent, Helen assigns her to ao dai designing. This is her big challenge since she has always hated ao dai and doesn't know how to do that. At the same time, she would like to tailor ao dai following Thanh Nu's traditional way, which will help Thanh Nu regain its reputation.

An Khanh meets Thanh Loan in order to apologize and ask Thanh Loan how to tailor ao dai properly. Later, Thanh Loan gives An Khanh an envelope which is the letter from Thanh Mai attaching ao dai tailoring method. An Khanh and Nhu Y together practice on how to make ao dai.

In the fashion event, model Trang Ngo and many models wear Nhu Y's collection on the catwalk. While the show is going on, Helen intends to switch Nhu Y as the designer into her name in the script, however Tuan catches and confronts her to carefully consider about her decision. Finally, the show is a success as Nhu Y expresses her thought on the collection, sends her thank to Helen. Right after that, the tailor house Thanh Nu is reopened.

Nhu Y wears the ao dai with the piece of jade attached, the magical jade sends her back to 1969. She meets her mom again and apologizes her, saying she's knows how to make ao dai. Both of them joyfully dance together.

The main soundtrack with same title as the movie is presented by Dong Nhi, composed by Nguyen Phuc Thien and produced and written by Only C – which he described as "typical pop song, catchy tune but the lyric has alot [sic] to say", with an encouraging message "which makes everyone fall in love with ao dai even more". "Tan Thoi" is the soundtrack at the end of the movie was presented by Jun Pham, mixed by Huynh Hien Nang in classic and retro style. According to Tuoi Tre, the song tells "a difference" between last decades and the modern world, where "it seems like people are neglecting others' existence, nor no longer using old methods of communication like before".

S.T composed and presented the song "Vi Anh Luon O Day" (Because I'm Always Here). This is a gift from him, written by Lou Hoang and produced by Tuan Mario. Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper describes the song is "a soft and deep ballad talking about a man's confusion when in love. Hoping for a happy ending; although going through how many obstacles and challenges anyway, he is still willing to protect and stand by her side till the end".

Before the official release, the producer introduced two songs "Co Ba Sai Gon" and "Tan Thoi" in October 20 and November 7, 2017. The complete soundtrack album was exclusively released on nhac.vn on November 29, 2017. Three music videos of three songs "Co Ba Sai Gon", "Tan Thoi" and "Vi Anh Luon O Day" were released on 16, 19 and 22 November 2017.

• Production management: Lê Văn Định
• First AD: Giang Ho
• Production design: Nguyễn Minh Đương &
• Creative Director: Lê Đức Hiệp
• Editorial department: Ngô Quyền
• Sound: Chawakorn Thongkua
• Make-up: Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân
• Stylists: Lê Minh Ngọc, Nguyễn Vũ Long
• Visual effects: Kantana Vietnam Co.ltd

The Tailor competed in 22nd Busan International Film Festival for Asian Film Window category with three showtimes which restricted children under 12 in October 14, 15 and 17 2017, at Starium of CGV Centum City cinema, number 2 and 7 room of Lotte Centum City cinema. Before the premiere, two directors, Ngo Thanh Van, Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc, Diem My 9x and Oanh Kieu had a meet up with the guests of Film Festival at BIFF Village stage by the beach of Haeundae. According to the producer, the first showtime was sold out with 1,000 tickets and received many positive reviews from critics and the audience as they complimented "such a nice and meaningful movie reserving the culture".

At the end of November 2017, The Tailor participated and competed in 20th Vietnam Film Festival in Da Nang. After the premiere of 20th Vietnam Film Festival Welcoming Week at National Cinema Center on November 11 at Hanoi, the movie was released afterward at Le Do Cinema, on November 27, 2017 at Da Nang. According to Tien Phong Newspaper, the showtime belonged to Film Festival was completely crowded, the audience streamed down to the cinema before showtime was so many that two line of supplementary seats were placed inside, and no one left during the movie. The Tailor continued to participated in Vietnam-Korea Film Festival with two showtimes on November 19 and 20 2017 at BHD Bitexco Cinema, Ho Chi Minh City. At 13th Osaka Asian Film Festival, the movie competed and had two showtimes at room number 4 of Cine Libre Umeda Cinema and ABC Hall, on March 11 and 15 2018. The movie also joined in Vietnam Film Week by Vietnam Consulate at Argentina in cooperation with Argentina representative office, in May 2018 at Buenos Aires Capital as 45 year anniversary of foreign communication between Vietnam and Argentina.

The Tailor was official released at all the cinemas in Vietnam from November 10, 2017 and early showtime from November 9, 2017, which was the only Vietnam film release during that time, among 16 foreign movies. According to Tuoi Tre, VAA Agency had agreed on the 50% revenue rate agreement with CGV Vietnam to have The Tailor released at CGV after the incident of Tam Cam: Chuyen chua ke in August 2016 previously.

The early premiere for artists and the press was operated at BHD Vincome Mega Mall Thao Dien, on November 8, 2017 in Ho Chi Minh City and on November 9, 2017 at Ha Noi.