Film sheds light on Indochina war
09:13, 2014/08/01
The war between Viet Nam and France (1946-54) will receive comprehensive coverage in a new documentary directed by Dao Thanh Tung.
The documentary entitled Chien Tranh Dong Duong (The Indochina War) was shot in Viet Nam and France under the auspices of the Department of Cinematography.
Director Tung prepared the script for more than a year, grounding it in historical research. The four-episodes: Duong Den Doc Lap Tu Do (Road to The Independence and Freedom); Cuoc Chien Trong Vong Vay (Battle in Blockade); Truong Ky Khang Chien (The Long Term Resistance War); Cuoc Chien Van Con Tiep Dien (The War Still Continues) is among few documentaries on Indochina war produced by Vietnamese.
"Vietnamese audiences will have a change to watch documentaries about the Indochina war which were made by foreign filmmakers. It is rare to have the chance to make such a film," said Tung.
In 1955, Russian army reporter and director Roman Carmen worked with a Viet Nam National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio cameramen to make the popular documentary Viet Nam Tren Duong Thang Loi (Viet Nam on The Road to Victory). The original was stored in the studio and aired on local television stations, according to director Tung.
The five-member crew led by Viet Nam National Centre Documentary Studio director Pham Thi Tuyet also visited France to shoot the film.
Thanks to the support of overseas Vietnamese in France, the film crew met two French witnesses, Pierre Bonny and Jacque Bonfils, living in Lyon.
During the interview, both expressed their impression of the Vietnamese people they met during the war and did not complain about their time in captivity.
"At the age of 90, they are still strong and sharp minded. They told us how much they loved Viet Nam and that Viet Nam would always be in their hearts," said Tung.
"There are many reasons to say that but I think that it was because they were treated well by Vietnamese when they surrendered in Viet Nam."
The film crew also met with two other Vietnamese witnesses, Viet Nam People's Army colonel Nguyen Su and diplomat Huynh Van Khanh.
Additionally, Tung travelled across Viet Nam to find survivors of the war but was challenged by the fading memories of elderly witnesses. To ensure the accuracy of the stories narrated in the film, the crew interviewed witness from different sides to guarantee objectivity.
The documentary will allow audiences to follow the historic chain of events when the French colonialists attacked Da Nang and began the war to invade Viet Nam in 1858.
The Indochina war began in 1946 between French forces and Viet Minh troops led by President Ho Chi Minh and legendary general Vo Nguyen Giap.
The fighting took place in the north of Viet Nam. The conflict engulfed the entire country and extended into the neighbouring then-French protectorates of Laos and Cambodia.
The film is expected to be released in August.
"Vietnamese audiences will have a change to watch documentaries about the Indochina war which were made by foreign filmmakers. It is rare to have the chance to make such a film," said Tung.
In 1955, Russian army reporter and director Roman Carmen worked with a Viet Nam National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio cameramen to make the popular documentary Viet Nam Tren Duong Thang Loi (Viet Nam on The Road to Victory). The original was stored in the studio and aired on local television stations, according to director Tung.
The five-member crew led by Viet Nam National Centre Documentary Studio director Pham Thi Tuyet also visited France to shoot the film.
Thanks to the support of overseas Vietnamese in France, the film crew met two French witnesses, Pierre Bonny and Jacque Bonfils, living in Lyon.
During the interview, both expressed their impression of the Vietnamese people they met during the war and did not complain about their time in captivity.
"At the age of 90, they are still strong and sharp minded. They told us how much they loved Viet Nam and that Viet Nam would always be in their hearts," said Tung.
"There are many reasons to say that but I think that it was because they were treated well by Vietnamese when they surrendered in Viet Nam."
The film crew also met with two other Vietnamese witnesses, Viet Nam People's Army colonel Nguyen Su and diplomat Huynh Van Khanh.
Additionally, Tung travelled across Viet Nam to find survivors of the war but was challenged by the fading memories of elderly witnesses. To ensure the accuracy of the stories narrated in the film, the crew interviewed witness from different sides to guarantee objectivity.
The documentary will allow audiences to follow the historic chain of events when the French colonialists attacked Da Nang and began the war to invade Viet Nam in 1858.
The Indochina war began in 1946 between French forces and Viet Minh troops led by President Ho Chi Minh and legendary general Vo Nguyen Giap.
The fighting took place in the north of Viet Nam. The conflict engulfed the entire country and extended into the neighbouring then-French protectorates of Laos and Cambodia.
The film is expected to be released in August.
11:07, 2024/11/19
A Hanoi artisan turns straw into appealing tourism product
Artisan Nguyen Tan Phat makes amazing toy creatures such as buffaloes, horses, birds and dragonflies from straw that is discarded after each harvest. His creations catch the attention of locals and visitors alike.
18:03, 2024/11/18
Fashion show hits Trang Tien runway
The event took place on November 17 and featured collections by young designers, some inspired by Hanoi, Indochinese architecture, traditional handicrafts and Eastern philosophy.
21:04, 2024/11/17
Exhibition "Vietnamese Bronze Figures": Tracing the legacy of the past
Artifacts and bronze sculptures are displayed at the Hanoi Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Center, offering visitors a glimpse of Vietnam's thousand-year-old tradition of casting bronze.
10:51, 2024/11/17
Indochina Sense: Hanoi’s architectural heritage unveiled at a 100-year-old university
The innovative exhibition, seamlessly integrated into the picturesque campus of the former Indochina University, has opened to the public for the first time, drawing a large crowd of art enthusiasts eager to explore its unique offerings.
15:27, 2024/11/16
“Look! It’s Amadeus Vu Tan Dan” workshop - an artistic journey for kids
Children’s art workshops offer a dynamic cultural experience, introducing young participants to the vibrant world of contemporary Vietnamese art.
11:56, 2024/11/14
Young and creative Hanoi through fashion and rock 'symphony'
With an elegant blend of modern creativity and traditional values, the image of thousand-year-old Hanoi was recreated youthfully and vibrantly during the function.
- "The Voice of Hanoi 2024" now underway to discover talented young singers
- Hanoi’s university hosts musical theater in traditional European style
- Artist captures old and new of Hanoi
- Hanoi in charming autumn with brushstrokes of an artist with dissabilities
- Painting competition for young artists and artists with disabilities
- Hanoi's streets told through British photographer's lens