Upon the authority of General Giap’s family, HIPT Company handed over the original disk of the film “Quyet Dinh Lich Su” or Historic Decision and the permanent rights to air the film to VTV.
This is the first 3D cartoon about General Giap and the victory at Dien Bien Phu. The film was made in 2010 to mark General Giap’s centenary birthday.
The film features General Vo Nguyen Giap during the night of January 25, 1954, riddled with thoughts and worries before coming to a decision to temporarily withdraw from the battle field.
The decision was aimed to consolidate forces and move from the guideline of “quick attack, quick victory” to “firm attack, firm victory”.
This has been considered a brilliant and historic decision that helped prepare for the Dien Bien Phu victory on May 7, 1954.
The 20-minute film was in production for nearly 2 years and portrays general Giap's careful preparation for the fight, including scenes of transporting equipment and goods and surveying the field.
Moving cannons in preparation for the fight
“One of the biggest difficulties during the making of the film was portraying of General Giap. Even though he was commonly called “Van” or “Literature”, his profession was military career, so it’s really difficult to combine literary style and aggressiveness in the military leader’s appearance and characteristics,” the film producer said.
In order to build up this portrait of General Giap, the film maker had to change several graphic designers, as many were too young and lacked of historic background. They also had to talk to several people who were close to the leader, study his memoirs and visit the old battle field in Dien Bien, De Castries’ trench, and the place where General Giap worked during the war.
The film also features heroic martyrs such as To Vinh Dien, Phan Dinh Giot and Be Van Dan who sacrificed their body to block cannons from slipping down the mountain and covering the holes of hideouts to protect comrades.
The film was broadcast on VTV1 on October 11, and VTV3, VTV4 and VTV6 on October 12-13.
