Cameraman filming Uncle Ho in France in 1946
He is painter Mai Trung Thu, a Vietnamese expatriate in France. Mr. Thu filmed all of President Ho Chi Minh's activities during his official visit to the French Republic in 1946, from June 12, 1946, when he landed in the city of Biarritz, southern France, to September 18, 1946, when he left France to return home.
Mai Trung Thu was born in the year of the Fire Horse 1906, in Ro Nha, Kien An province, along with To Ngoc Van, Nguyen Phan Chanh, Nguyen Gia Tri, who were students of the first class of the Indochina College of Fine Arts, directed by Professor Victor Tardie. After graduating, he went to Hue to teach painting at the National School. With his savings, he bought an old car to teach, learn to sing, and learn to play the monochord. In 1937, when there was an International Fine Arts Exhibition in Paris, he went to France to attend and stayed. Here, he became famous for his silk paintings with Vietnamese characteristics, which were displayed in many exhibitions in France and internationally, including during World War II.
Mr. Mai Trung Thu was also a long-time filmmaker. He learned cinematography, bought his own cameras, and produced his own films. In 1945, he founded Tan Viet Film Studio in Paris. In 1946, Hanoi cinemas screened Mai Trung Thu's film, a gift to the country, titled: "The Vitality of 25,000 Overseas Vietnamese in France".
Mr. Mai Trung Thu said that he was the one who filmed all of President Ho Chi Minh's activities during his official visit to the French Republic in 1946, from June 12, 1946, when he landed in the city of Biarritz, southern France, to September 18, 1946, when he left France to return home.
His camera recorded many images of Uncle Ho in France, his official diplomatic activities and his daily life: receiving foreign politicians; meeting overseas Vietnamese and international friends who knew him more than 20 years ago; visiting localities, economic and cultural establishments, historical relics; reading books, watching art performances; walking on the beach; sitting on the lawn in the Boulogne garden; resting in the garden of Mr. and Mrs. Obrac, members of the French Republic, in the suburbs of Paris...
Mr. Mai Trung Thu told stories about some events that he filmed and will never forget. On June 22, 1946, President Ho Chi Minh took a plane flying the red flag with a yellow star, leaving the city of Biarritz and landing at Le Bourgie airport in the capital city of Paris. At that time, the new French government had been established with Mr. G. Bidon as Prime Minister. The airport was covered with Vietnamese and French flags. High-ranking French officials, generals of the French armed forces, Vietnamese expatriates, international friends, and reporters came to welcome the President in large numbers. The military band played the national anthems of France and Vietnam. The French honor guard wore bronze helmets and saluted with guns.
President Ho Chi Minh walked on the red velvet carpet, next to him were French Ministers, including the Minister of French Overseas Affairs, the Ministry that 23 years ago had sent secret agents to search for Nguyen Ai Quoc in Paris without success. All Vietnamese people present at the airport saw that scene with great pride.
President Ho Chi Minh and his entourage stayed at the Roayan-Montsou Hotel, one of the largest and most beautiful hotels remaining in Paris after the war. Every day, many of the President's old friends came to visit and greet him.such as Mr. MacBloncua, a Martinich, who worked for the Le Paria newspaper, Mr. Leo Ponde, who was the Chairman of the Le Phobourg Club... Many overseas Vietnamese from all over France came to greet the President with great affection.
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The most memorable were the meetings and talks the President had with overseas Vietnamese at the Muychuy-a-litê Hall. This is a large hall in the Môbe neighborhood, very close to the Vietnamese people living in Paris, where Tet celebrations, meetings, rallies, and art performances by overseas Vietnamese took place. President Ho Chi Minh talked with overseas Vietnamese, informed them about the situation in the country and advised them to unite, turn towards the Fatherland and each person to try to learn a profession.
Mr. Mai Trung Thu filmed those rallies and recorded the President's voice on 11 vinyl records. He also filmed the President's trip to Normandy to visit the old battlefield, where the Allies landed in 1944 to fight the German fascists. It was raining and the road was slippery, the President's convoy of 4 cars was driving about 10 kilometers away from the city of Evr and then had an accident. One car overturned, the front of the car was crushed, the driver was lying under the car. Mr. Do Dinh Thien, who was in the convoy, was slightly injured. A Frenchman with a broken shoulder had to be taken to Evr hospital for emergency treatment. President Ho Chi Minh was safe. Mr. Mai Trung Thu brushed off the dust on his clothes, stood up, and held the camera to film the scene of the accident./.
