The Song of Goldfish

Being a journey into the invisible violence of fear and intimidation, CAVANG attempts to capture a sense of insecurity and fragility that pervades every individual’s life tortured by worries of physical and emotional survival, of twisted memories, and of chronic fear.

This calculated high life is slave to the gaze of the eyes. Based on the image of the bubble-eye goldfish which have 2 large fluid-filled sacs under its eyes, the CAVANG character, essentially, stands for all the people who are being victims of the gaze because of their unique appearance and needs. Born with a socially perceived abnormal appearance, CAVANG is traumatized by the internal conflict between his self-image and his ideal self. It’s not until his eyesight is shattered does he become aware of his true value.

  • Tien Thuy Dinh
    Director
  • Tien (Shannon) Thuy Dinh
    Writer
  • Hong Thu Nguyen
    Producer
    "THÁN" show at Youth Theatre of Vietnam, "ĐỘC HÀNH" liveshow at Hanoi Opera House.
  • Dang Hong Nguyen
    Producer
  • Thanh Duy Nguyen
    Key Cast
    "Ca Vang (Goldfish)"
    Everything that happened and would happen by Heiner Goebbels
  • Minh Ngoc Tran
    Key Cast
    "Trang (White)"
    Free Form Residency by Á Space (a non-profit experiment art space, based in Hanoi, Vietnam)
  • Vy Nhat Dao
    Key Cast
    "Den (Black)"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    CAVANG
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 13 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 5, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    3,455 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    Viet Nam
  • Country of Filming:
    Viet Nam
  • Language:
    English, Vietnamese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Northampton
Director Biography - Tien Thuy Dinh

A fresh graduate studying Creative Film & Television from the University of Northampton, United Kingdom. She is a freelance filmmaker, graphic designer, and digital collage enthusiast. “CAVANG” is set to be her first professional production, the first step on her journey of a thousand miles to ignite unconventional filmmaking spirits among local artists.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

CAVANG is my bravest endeavour, up until now, to visualize my mental picture of who I am as a person, to reach deeper into my perception of self-concept, the central notion to Carl Rogers' personality theory. Based on the image of the bubble-eye goldfish which have 2 large fluid-filled sacs under its eyes, the CAVANG character, essentially, stands for all the people who are being victims of the gaze because of their unique appearance and needs.

CAVANG wants to feel, experience and behave in ways that are consistent with his self-image and which reflect what he would like to become, his ideal self. He yearns for unconditional positive regard. However, this life fails to appreciate him for who he is, therefore putting him in a state of incongruence.

The incongruence between the experiencing self and the ideal self is something all of us have to endure at many points in life. The way we encounter and overcome it will decide whether we can actualise our full potentials or not. Everyone has a chance, but the world doesn’t give enough love.