The untold secret of the most haunting soldier in the movie 'Red Rain'

When I was cast as Sen, director Dang Thai Huyen thought I was too big.

- Born in peacetime, how does Hoang Long truly understand the pain of soldiers in wartime?

All actors inRed Rainwere all born in peacetime. I always long to understand how hard and painful our ancestors had to fight bravely to bring peace to today.

I learned through online newspapers and living witnesses. When entering the battlefield, our ancestors were very optimistic and loved life even though they knew they were entering death's door. They fought for the next generation, for today's peace.

The pain of a person who has experienced the battlefield is very special - painful but happy because he fought with all his might to protect the country.

When I took on the role of Sen, my understanding was limited. After analyzing the work, I realized that this was a psychological role. Luckily, director Dang Thai Huyen respected my creative ideas.

I studied reconnaissance commandos in detail. Commandos move and fight in small groups, completely different from infantry. They go deep into enemy territory, accept risks and can sacrifice themselves at any time. This helped me develop the characters more deeply.

- Was there any difficulty in preparing your body for the role of Sen?

When I was cast as Sen, director Dang Thai Huyen thought I was too big - 1.82m tall, 82-83kg. She asked if I could lose weight, and I agreed. But she asked me to lose weight without losing muscle, meaning I still had to be big and muscular.

She said:"You just keep reducing until you are told to stop."Because the role has many stages, I have to divide my body's state to suit each process. Because the film is not filmed in order, I have to balance it.

When I arrived in Quang Tri, I had lost 72kg, and the director told me to stop. But when the character transitioned, the filming schedule suddenly changed. I texted:"How can I lose 4kg in 2 days?"She said the weather was erratic and the film crew couldn't meet the requirements, so she asked me to try.

I had to fast for several days, losing 67-68kg, skinny as a skeleton just to film one scene. Then I had to gain weight again to fit the stage and progress of the film. Ms. Huyen apologized for promising to give me time but in the end couldn't. I remember that memory forever. Now when I meet Ms. Huyen, I still joke:"You hurt me."

- How do you analyze the complex psychological depth and rebellious inner self of the character Sen?

This is a character with many complex psychological changes. I discussed with director Dang Thai Huyen that there are many different types of "madness". Abnormal psychology in peacetime and wartime are completely different.

With Sen, I wanted to express the deepest pain and desire. Sen was born in a time of war, so she had a strong desire for peace. When she fell into an abnormal state, she realized her dream - to see a peaceful world with blue skies, playing with friends in the fields.

On the contrary, the sound of bombs and bullets brought Sen back to the cruel reality, causing him to panic. I imagined Sen as a seasoned special forces soldier who had witnessed too much pain and loss. Those memories always haunted his subconscious.

I don't want the audience to think Sen went "crazy" because of the pressure of bombs or lack of oxygen when buried. The war was just a catalyst, the final explosion pushed Sen to the limit of endurance and caused his mind to collapse.

Sen is essentially a well-trained regular soldier. But when he suffers too much pain - losing comrades, losing loved ones - and cannot release it, the pain accumulates in his heart. Like a dam containing water, when it is overloaded, it will burst. That is when Sen "goes crazy".

- What experiences did meeting veterans give you? Which story haunted you the most and provided the material for the role?

It was a great fortune to meet the veterans. When I met them, I deeply understood that peace today is not easy. Just the second sentence about the battlefield, they cried - missing their comrades, missing those who sacrificed, missing the difficult days.

Those times are unforgettable wounds. Every soldier who returns to this day still carries wounds not only on the skin but also in the soul.

The story that haunts me the most is the burial of comrades 7-8 times without being able to complete, being buried and then plowed over by bombs. When our ancestors sacrificed, their graves were made but they were still plowed over - such a terrible crime. This makes today's descendants understand the cruelty of war.

Through the character Sen, I want to convey a message about the haunting memories of war. Even today, many veterans still suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome. I want to express this subtly, without being too heavy, so that people living in peace can understand the value of a peaceful life.

- In your family, has anyone served in the military? How did their stories influence the way you portrayed Sen?

My father participated in the Vi Xuyen front - the fierce battlefield of the nation.

After returning home, my father never talked about the life of a soldier at that time. We also rarely talked about this issue. Before the trainingRed RainI told my dad: "I got to participate in a work about the Quang Tri battlefield". My dad was happy but didn't say much, just encouraged me: "Just keep working, if you have any difficulties, tell me".

That was the motivation for me to try harder. I tried to complete the character Sen well to wait for the day the work was released and show it to my father, unfortunately my father no longer had the chance to see his son playing the role of a soldier.

WorkRed RainThis is the incense stick that the crew and I want to send to the soldiers who died protecting national peace.

Vietnamese people over 13 years old should watch "Red Rain" at least once in their life.

- The camaraderie of Squad 1 from the movie to real life shows that everyone is very close. How is your personal relationship?

At first, no one in Squad 1 knew each other - everyone came from a different hometown, with brothers from the Central, South and North. Before filming, we had 2 months to practice and get acquainted.

The first few days were a bit awkward, but since we were all boys, it was easy to get close and bond. After participating in the work, we had more friends, teammates, and brothers who could accompany us on our career path.

- Being able to participate in the rehearsal and parade to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2, Hoang Long's feelings must be very special?

The actorsRed Rainto participate in parades, marches and programs80 years of the Journey of Independence - Freedom - Happiness inMy Dinh Stadium is a great honor.

There are hardships and difficulties, but we feel happy and grateful to our ancestors - those who have gone through pain to have peace today. So that we - the people of Vietnam can live in peace, enjoy happiness, and admire the achievements that our ancestors and the state have built over the years.

We only had a little trouble, but the military, police and other groups had a lot more trouble. I felt very lucky and happy to be in the ranks participating in the great national holiday.

- How did Hoang Long feel when watching the movie and what moment made him burst with emotion?

Even though I've read the script many times and participated in making it, when I watch it for the first time, everything is still held back by personal perspective.

The second time, I felt it fully. I let myself flow with the rhythm.Red Rain. At that time, everything was so explosive, I cried like a baby. Doctor Le (actor Hua Vi Van - PV) teased me when leaving the theater: "Please, Sen, cry softly. Why are you crying so much that the whole theater can hear you? Are you a special agent?

The moments of my comrades' sacrifice made me unable to bear it, I kept crying uncontrollably. After the second time, I decided to watch it at least 5 times to fully understand the value and message that People's Artist Ly Thai Dung and Director Dang Thai Huyen wanted to convey - to help Vietnamese people understand the loss and pain of their ancestors. I think Vietnamese people over 13 years old should watch it.Red Rainat least once in a lifetime

- Besides acting, what else are you passionate about? Do you have any hobbies that are "completely opposite" to the image of Sen?

Besides acting, I like sports and taking care of plants because my house has a garden. When I'm not acting, I stay home and garden.

Regarding the character Sen, children in wartime may lose their parents, their families may not be complete, so their desire for peace is very great. They carry the pain of their families and people to the battlefield, only hoping to sacrifice themselves, contribute, and avenge their people. Sen is a general representative of men at that time, but I was born in peacetime, so it is difficult for me to be like Sen.

- Do you want to continue with historical-revolutionary films or explore other genres? Does "Red Rain" change your artistic direction?

Red Rainhas changed me a lot, not just in terms of artistic direction. In terms of direction, I always want works that aim for beauty, bring positive messages, humanistic values, and a developing perspective for viewers.

I really want to stick with historical-revolutionary films. Honestly, this genre of film has not been well received by audiences before. But after participating inRed Rain, I strongly believe that this will be a turning point for historical-revolutionary films.

Our nation has a long and heroic history. Why not make a film about revolutionary history? There is so much valuable material, it is impossible to do it all.Red Rainjust a small corner of the story of 81 days and nights. The historical - revolutionary film genre deserves to be developed.

Hope laterRed RainThere will be more works on the topic of resistance history, helping the audience understand more about the painful past and appreciate the present peace./.