Movie stars Gerard Depardieu and Monica Bellucci are set to dazzle the screen for Vietnamese audiences in their upcoming comedy Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra.

The comedy is one of eight to be presented at the Vietnam Cinematography Association's Cinema Club during this month.

The event is a collaborative effort between the French Culture Centre, L'Espace in Hanoi and the Vietnam Cinematography Association following the success of previous programmes in 2004 and 2005.

Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra tells of the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra, who bets against the Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar. The Queen, confirms that her people are still great, even if the time of the pharaohs has long passed.

She vows to build a new palace for Caesar within three months. Since all her architects are either busy or too conservative in style, the honour falls to Edifis.

He is to build the palace and be covered in gold or, if not, he is to be eaten by crocodiles. Edifis calls upon an old friend to help him out: The fabulous Druid Getafix from Gaul, who brews a fantastic potion that gives supernatural strength.

In order to help and protect the old Druid, Asterix and Obelix accompany him on his journey to Egypt.

When Julius Caesar gets wind of the project succeeding, he has the building site attacked by his troops in order to win the bet and not lose face. But just like the local pirates, he hasn't counted on Asterix and Obelix.

The movie was produced in 2002 by director Alain Chabat. It will be shown on June 23 at 8pm with French version and on June 24 at 10am with Vietnamese dubbing.

Other movies to be shown includes: Les Bronzes (French Fried Vacation), Le Pere Noel Est Une Ordure (Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town), Gazon Maudit (French Twist), Bernie, Les Visiteurs (The Visitors), La Chevre (The Goat), and Liberte Oleron (Freedom-Oleron).

These movies are chosen from the best comedies of French cinema within the past 25 years.

All the movies can be seen twice - once in the original version and once in Vietnamese dubbing.

The event will open tonight with the movie Les Bronzes telling a story of holidaymakers who arrive in a Club Med camp on the Ivory Coast, who are determined to forget their everyday problems and emotional disappointments.

Games, competitions, outings, bathing and sunburns accompany a continual succession of casual affairs.

Les Bronzes will be shown with Vietnamese dubbing tomorrow at 51 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hanoi.

Entrances are free for everyone.

(Source: Viet Nam News)