Ngan Le, the producer of  "Vietnam - Where are you?"

The film’s title — "Vietnam - Where are you?" — was inspired by a question asked by a representative of the world’s football governing body FIFA at the draw ceremony for the 2023 World Cup.

The film's producer, Ngan Le, explained that according to head coach Mai Duc Chung, during the draw ceremony held in New Zealand last October, when the Vietnamese national team was called, the organizers looked around and asked, "Vietnam - Where are you?".

"This question prompted us to think about where we are on the world football map and later became the title of the film," Ngan said, adding, "normally, it takes about a year to complete a documentary, but because our team wants this particular film to be released on Vietnamese Women's Day it was shortened to 45 minutes and was done on a very tight schedule."

The film, directed by Nguyen Thi Tham, captures events and conversations between the footballers, who come across as strong and determined on the football field, but gentle and feminine off the field. Team captain Huynh Nhu said that this is not just her dream, but the dream of the entire team and all the football fans in Vietnam.

"After securing a spot in the World Cup, we embarked on a rigorous training journey," Nhu said, adding, "we’re aware of our responsibility to not betray the trust of the fans, who have high expectations for the national team." The entire team is determined and making a great effort to achieve the best possible results together, she said. 

"Vietnam - Where are you?" will be released on October 20, 2023. (Photo: plo.vn)

Taking place from July 20 to August 20 in New Zealand and Australia, the 2023 World Cup marks Vietnam’s first appearance in the largest tournament for women's football. The team was placed in Group E with the United States (the reigning world champion), the Netherlands (the current runner-up), and Portugal.

Head coach Mai Duc Chung said this world-class competition puts tremendous pressure on the players and himself. "Despite our limited level compared to the world, once we're in the game, everyone wants to win, and we must strive even harder," he said, adding "we believe that having a relaxed mindset will help us perform better.”

The film crew collected footage on the field, at the players’ house, at fan meetings, and from the media. Producer Ngan Le said one of the main characters in this film is the Vietnamese fans, who are portrayed as a parallel storyline alongside the players.

The fans have been supporting the national team since the first match of the tournament. The film provides the audience with an overall view of the team. Coach Mai Duc Chung is not only a coach but also a father who provided enormous mental support for the team, Ngan said.