Meritorious Artist Lê Vy and the secret behind her iconic role.

Launched in 1994,The nameless eucalyptus treeIt is one of the outstanding works of Vietnamese war films in the post-reform period.

Under the skillful direction of the duo Nguyen Thanh Van and Pham Nhue Giang, the film not only depicts the brutality of the battlefield but also reveals the silent, agonizing aspects of life on the home front – a place where there are no bombs falling or bullets flying, but where losses, sacrifices, and loneliness still smolder.

The film tells the story of the special relationship between two lonely people in a rural village in Northern Vietnam during the war against America: Mr. Bach Van – a widower and father of a fallen soldier, and Ms. Binh – a woman whose husband went away to fight and was killed in action.

They met, empathized with each other in their loneliness and torment, and finally decided to "break the rules," despite the disapproving glances and gossip from the villagers. They were like "eucalyptus trees"—living in arid places, unnoticed by many, yet resilient, strong, and silently contributing to the country.

The memorable behind-the-scenes story of the film was shared by People's Artist Nguyen Thanh Van herself at the program.Cine7 – Memories of Vietnamese FilmsThat was Le Vy, who was pregnant at the time but was determined to stay with the film crew until the end. Despite her growing baby bump, she didn't refuse any scenes, including carrying soil and doing heavy labor on the dike.

Even before the film crew knew that actress Le Vy was pregnant, when there was a scene involving carrying heavy loads of earth, the director suggested a stunt double, but she refused and wanted to perform the scene herself. The film crew carefully chose camera angles and skillfully staged the scene to conceal her pregnant belly. When recalling that memory, director Nguyen Thanh Van became emotional.

The dedication of Meritorious Artist Lê Vy was deservedly rewarded. Her role as Bình – a strong, independent rural woman who dared to love and overcome social prejudices – helped her reach the pinnacle of her career. If inFairy tales for 17-year-olds.Le Vy is still only at the potential stage, while...The nameless eucalyptus treeShe truly underwent a transformation, reaching emotional depth, delivering mature and convincing performances.

The character Binh is not only a symbol of resilient women during wartime, but also represents a silent yet fierce resistance against social prejudice. The couple Binh and Van (played by Meritorious Artist Hong Son) create a rare love story on Vietnamese screens: genuine, full of suppressed emotions, and deeply human.

The nameless eucalyptus treeIt won many prestigious awards: Silver Lotus at the 11th Vietnam Film Festival (1996), Best Actress for Le Vy, Best Cinematography for Nguyen Duc Viet, Best Music for composer Pho Duc Phuong, B Prize of the Vietnam Film Association (1995), Bronze Torch Award at the Pyongyang International Film Festival (1996).

Director and People's Artist Nguyen Thanh Van shared that the image of the eucalyptus tree is similar to the lives depicted in the film. Eucalyptus trees can live in the driest, most rocky places – where other trees cannot survive; few people pay attention to the eucalyptus tree, it is hidden somewhere in this life.

That image is a metaphor for the civilians who contributed to the war effort; they were quiet and unassuming, not celebrated as heroes. They were hidden, they were anonymous, but they were indispensable in the fight to drive out the invading enemy.

The fates of people like Mr. Bach Van or Ms. Binh were very common in the rural society of North Vietnam during the war. The fates of women on the home front, men whose sons went to war and died. These were people who silently dedicated themselves to the cause. Nearly three decades have passed...The nameless eucalyptus treeIt remains one of the most special films in Vietnamese cinema.