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old college friend of the head of
Minh City is being capitalized, re-
Saigon's film studio, and his uncle,
SAigoned, but along with that mania
Don Duong, proved to be perfect
of new money Bui caught the co ► -
casting for the role of the cyclo driver.
munal and spiritual graces of an old
But the film did not arrive on a tray,
culture beneath the flash.
and
"it happened because there was
The tale of a prostitute and a cyclo
this
incredible
feeling of being a fami-
driver (played by Bui's uncle, a top
ly
working
together.
I wanted to make
actor in Vietnam) weaves with that of
a film of dignity and compassion.
a flower seller who reaches an old, iso-
People have suffered so much there,
lated poet, and that of a returning
but there is this incredible dignity and
Marine (Harvey Keitel) looking for his
sense of pride, of life."
daughter and befriending an urchin.
He remains very American, with a
Keitel, the movie's one American
hip
ponytail and the buff good looks
star, saw Bui's short film at Telluride,
of a Brandon Lee: Raised mostly in
and granted a meeting later. Bui
Sunnyvale, Calif, he lives now in the
recalls, smiling:
"Harvey
is
a
godfather
Kids under 12 gears of age
of independent films, and
he's quite an intimidating
excludes BBQ Rib's (1/2 off of 4-.50)
guy. Our meeting at his
• all 99 items are of the Kids menu only.
office lasted five minutes;
he said he liked my short
and my ideas, that he was
all boOked up, but he'd
29221 Northwestern (corner of 12 Nile Rd.) Southfield
read the script. I thought,
`Sure,' but about a week
later he called to say, 'Kid,
I cant get this story out of
nay head,' and then he
became an executive pro-
Open 7 Days
A scene om "Three Seasons," the first film to win
ducer for us, and helped
both major awards at the Sundance Film Festival —
Lunch and Dinner
get the support."
the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award. It also
In Saigon, Keitel "was
took the prize for Best Cinematography.
Mideastern and American Dining
the only one who had a
trailer. I think he sat in it
Now Serving Wines, Beer and Spirits
Los Angeles area, after some years in
once. He gave up his car after one
LATHRUP VILLAGE
-1
New
York (and film studies at Loyola
Buy
One
Entree
night.
He
stayed
in
a
hotel
where
he
27060 Evergreen
Marymount). An early taste for science
at 1-696 & 11 Mile Rd.
Get Second Entree
Q1
could walk to the set and walk the city.
In Lathrup Landing
morphed toward film, partly because
qual or Greater Value
Harvey was totally there with us, no
(248) 559-9094
movies came to him early and often.
star stuff at all." .•
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WEST BLOOMFIELD
His father, a military man who fled
• Dine in only • With Coupon
Even using a studio built around a
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• 1 Coupon per Couple
collapsing
South Vietnam, achieved
Not
Valid
With
Other
Offers
North of Maple
•
garage, Bui brought in an elegant film
JN
Expires 12-31-99
Bloomfield Avenue Shoppes
U.S.
success
that included owning five
from
some
red
.
for $2 million. Apart
(248) 668-1800
video stores. As a kid, Bui didn't brood
tape, the only problem was "the city
CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS
on 'Nam dramas. His favorites, as with
was changing so fast, we had to use
most California boys growing up in the
locations very. quickly. Go back a week
'80s, were thrill shows and "the Brat
or two later, the street might be paved,
Pack" pictures, the John Hughes films.
or a building torn down."
He may be going back to Vietnam
He devoured the city on film,
for
another movie, "with the right script,
RI
-
including the Apocalypse Now bar,
WF. II1VITe you . back TO RISTOIZalITC Dz Modes
and
if there is a bigger budget," he says.
;
TRaOrrion
srananut
Loi
u
.
"the most famous in town.
Wbege We weLcome you TO Cl
"It
will
stay a big part of my life and
erujs.
►
rule
wwes
ant)
prz
Everybody's
been
there
who
comes
to
nuc,.,
►
or Fine O
there are great stories there, but I have
Make IT Di MoaesTa's cu.;c ► n.
Saigon ... De Niro, Tom Brokaw.
American stories, too."
They have a poster of Brando in the
back. People call it 'the Apoc.'"
.
Without kowtowing, or any censor- .
Special.‘E.ve1I -E5
Przi l'aTe PaRries
Three Seasons opens exclusively
ing, Bui made a movie that pleased his
at the Detroit Film Theatre,
hosts and himself. "The Vietnamese are
29410 NORTHWESTERN HIGHWAY SOUTHFIELD I 2 4 8 . 3 :5 8 . 0 3 4 4
.located in the Detroit Institute of
proud," he says. "They don't need our
Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave..,
money all that much. They kicked out a
Detroit. Showtimes are 7 and
$70 million Bond film that was getting
9:30 'p.m. Friday and Saturday,
T1 II
121
1'C
ready to shoot there, so losing us would
1 (._)1Z
Aug. 6-7, and 4 and 7 p.m.
Family Restaurant
RIBS
have been no big deal. We've shown
a.m.
to
12
Mid.
Sunday, Aug. 8. TicketS are
OPEN 7 DAYS -11
them the movie, and they really like it."
r
$5.50. For tickets and informa-
r
Bui was aided by connections
tion, call (313) 833-2323;
his mother, a mathematician, was an

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