Films about revolutionary war: Sending faith in the younger generation.

The feature film "The Returnee" by the People's Army Film Studio immediately won the favor of a large audience and professionals after its release.

After three months of screenings, with 12 shows in the North and 22 in the South, "The Returnee" left a lasting impression on viewers not only as a film full of military spirit and deep emotion, but also as a testament to the artistic talents of young filmmakers creating revolutionary war films.

Something unprecedented....

"The Returnee" is a major and important film project of the People's Army Film Studio (PAD), directed by the General Political Department (GPD), to serve the country's major anniversaries in 2015. Previously, PAD had no precedent for releasing a film to the public in theaters, but immediately after its premiere screening for professionals and the media, "The Returnee" attracted considerable attention and received quite positive reviews for a war film set in the post-war period. The theme is not new, but the film has achieved an artistic value that even discerning critics are satisfied with.

In creating a work of art, every creator has a desire to bring it to the public and have it appreciated. This is also the aspiration of the creators of "The Returnee," including: writer Suong Nguyet Minh (author of the short story "The Man at Chau Riverbank"); screenwriter Nguyen Thu Dung; co-author and director Dang Thai Huyen, who drew inspiration from the short story; cinematographer Trinh Quang Tung… along with a film crew of nearly 100 people. They overcame countless difficulties and challenges during more than three months of filming on location, shooting scenes of bombs falling, bullets exploding, and the cold rain of the late winter days, sometimes with temperatures dropping to 6 degrees Celsius; and then spending the same amount of time editing the film day and night in the cramped studio of the People's Army Film Studio, which still lacked many resources.

Scene from the feature film "The Returnee". Photo: QUANG QUYET

In response to this demand, the leadership of the Vietnam People's Army Film Studio agreed to allow the film to be screened in theaters; in particular, with the support of the leadership of the Kim Dong Cultural Center (19 Hang Bai, Hanoi), "The Returnee" had 10 consecutive free screenings. Immediately, the "The Returnee" effect spread across most newspapers, radio and television channels, attracting a packed audience. In some screenings, the director and the lead actress playing May – the returnee (La Thanh Huyen) – even had to move plastic chairs along the aisles of the theater to accommodate the audience.

According to representatives from the Kim Dong Cultural Center, this is unprecedented for a state-produced film, and it's the first time a film about the revolutionary war of the military has created such a strong impact, attracting audiences who lined up to see it. Even more remarkably, while the audience turnout in Hanoi was still strong, in the South, Mr. Dong Won Kwak, General Director of CJ CGV Vietnam, personally sent an invitation to the People's Army Film Studio to collaborate on screening "The Returnee" in the CGV Art House program – showcasing outstanding Vietnamese and Korean art at one of the largest cinema chains in Ho Chi Minh City.

In his opening remarks, the General Director of CGV emphasized: “‘The Returnee’ is one of the films we have been eagerly anticipating and highly appreciating in terms of both content and visual quality. The historical war film genre has always been a theme we want to focus on and convey to audiences, especially younger generations, so that they can more deeply feel the tragedy and heroism of war that no words other than cinema can express.” Mr. Dong Won Kwak shared that this is the first time CGV has had the honor of welcoming and collaborating on the promotion of artistic works by Vietnamese people wearing the green uniform of the Vietnam People's Army. The General Director of CGV expressed hope that in the future, they will continue to receive similar artistic works.

Placing trust in young people.

At the premiere of "The Returnee" in Hanoi on November 5th, in the presence of leaders from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Associate Professor and Doctor Nguyen The Ky, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, remarked that the film "The Returnee" vividly portrays the pain and suffering of people in the post-war era. War brings loss and sorrow, but the feeling conveyed in "The Returnee" is one of life and love; a war film that is not melancholic. The film contributes to the enthusiasm and dedication of young people, promotes a spirit of pride, and especially highlights the humanistic values ​​of the Vietnamese people.

Director and People's Artist Dang Nhat Minh expressed his confidence in young artists. He said that he used to worry about the younger generation when they were preoccupied with pursuing superficial commercial and entertainment film projects, forgetting their civic duty and the duty of artists to contribute their talent and energy to the sustainable development of the film industry and national art in general. But through the film "Those Who Wrote Legends" (directed by Bui Tuan Dung) and now "The Returnee" (directed by Dang Thai Huyen), People's Artist Dang Nhat Minh is temporarily reassured because there are young talents continuing the legacy, carrying on the "fire of the profession" that previous generations of their fathers and grandfathers once dedicated themselves to.

Particularly noteworthy in "The Returnee," besides its humanistic value, is the dedication and perseverance of a young female director (Dang Thai Huyen, born in 1980), along with the passionate artistic commitment of an entire young crew, mostly from the "70s," "80s," and even including members from the "90s" generation.

Scene from the movie The Returnee.

Previously, Colonel Dinh Xuan Son, former Deputy Director of the People's Army Film Studio, shared that when the General Political Department directed the production of the film "The Returnee," many opinions suggested that, after more than 10 years since "The Fateful Gong," the People's Army Film Studio had undertaken a major feature film project, and caution was needed, suggesting that experienced and reputable film directors should be invited to direct it. However, the People's Army Film Studio trusted and resolutely entrusted the project to young people, collaborating with external talents who shared the same enthusiasm, and initial success came to "The Returnee," reflecting the trust placed in them.

On behalf of the leadership of the General Political Department, General Ngo Xuan Lich, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, Standing Member of the Central Military Commission, and Head of the General Political Department, praised the dedication of the director and the film crew. Through the film "The Returnee," General Ngo Xuan Lich reminded the leaders and commanders of units, especially those in the arts, to trust and entrust tasks to the younger generation.

What is most desired from "The Returnee," perhaps besides the trust placed in young people to create and execute these works, is the boldness to bring cinematic and artistic works to theaters and stages outside the military; to promote literary, artistic, and journalistic works through mass media, so that the image of Uncle Ho's soldiers is widely accepted by the public... And above all, the image of Uncle Ho's soldiers in the new era will always remain a beautiful image, a beautiful story and portrait in even more literary, artistic, and journalistic works of the country.

According to the People's Army Newspaper