Priceless footage

(Baonghean) -Right after President Ho Chi Minh signed the Decree establishing the Vietnam Revolutionary Cinema industry in the Viet Bac resistance base (March 15, 1953), the first filmmakers discussed recreating the National Day scene on September 2 to put into the film because there were too few images of Independence Day on September 2, 1945. Director Pham Van Khoa, who was then the Director of National Cinema, said: “When victory comes to Hanoi, we will re-create the Independence Day scene. I myself participated in building the stage, I still remember that day clearly. I invited Uncle Ho to read the Declaration of Independence to record in the film!”

But that wish was not fulfilled. The resistance war against the French colonialists ended, Hanoi was liberated with many tasks, then the whole country entered the resistance war against the invading American imperialists. It was not until 1974 that the Scientific Documentary film crew, including screenwriter Hong Ha, director Pham Ky Nam, and cameraman Nhu Ai, was sent to France and England to make the film “Nguyen Ai Quoc - Ho Chi Minh”. Director Pham Ky Nam recounted the following story:

“One morning, someone contacted me by phone, his voice warm: “There is a friend of Vietnam who always loves the Vietnamese people, wants to meet you to give you a small gift. I hope this gift is useful for your work! I went straight to the meeting place. The host greeted me warmly and opened the cupboard to take out a small film box faded by time. I asked the host for permission, took a knife and gently opened the box lid, peeled off the moisture-proof paper, and saw a small roll of film. I gently pulled out each film clip, shone it on the window, and was shocked and moved by the film images that appeared, depicting Ba Dinh Square, the crowd rallying, and the solemn September 2nd ceremony stage. I was so happy that I hugged the film box to my chest and only had time to thank the host, forgetting to ask about the origin of the film. When I got back to my workplace, I immediately put the film roll on the editing machine, feeling both happy and worried that the film would "age" over time. Although it had been several decades, due to the dry climate in France, the film image was still bright and beautiful. The scene of the ceremony stage, the image of Uncle Ho, the crowd excited with the slogan "Long live Independence Day! Long live President Ho!"... The entire film was only a few minutes long, but it was very touching."

Returning home, using many cinematic techniques, the two directors Pham Ky Nam and Le Manh Thich created and reinforced those few images to make them more vivid and coherent. On the background of those priceless historical images, the director added a few scenes, then added the background music of the song "Destroy the Fascists" by Nguyen Dinh Thi, along with commentary and the national oath to have the complete film "Independence Day September 2, 1945", with a length of 6 minutes. The two directors recreated the exciting, vibrant atmosphere of September 2, with Uncle Ho's resounding voice declaring before millions of our compatriots and the world: "From now on, Vietnam has the right and deserves to enjoy freedom and independence!". Both films "Nguyen Ai Quoc - Ho Chi Minh" and "Independence Day September 2, 1945" were completed in May 1975 in an atmosphere of joy celebrating the complete liberation of our country.

Since then, every year on National Day, the documentary film “Independence Day September 2, 1945” has appeared on many audiovisual media. There is only one question: who is the author of that film? Director Pham Ky Nam had the opportunity to ask the homeowner, he calmly replied that he could not say anything more because he was not the one who filmed it: “I only know that the film is useful to you and has been sent to the right address, so I am reassured!”.

So the author of the rare, priceless documents in the film "Independence Day September 2, 1945" is still a question, undetermined.

Le Lan (47, Dang Thuc Hua, Vinh)