A moment of brilliance from Meritorious Artist Huu Muoi in the film 'When Will October Come?'

He was kicked out of the role, nearly shattering his dream of becoming a state-owned star.

When will October come?- This subtle post-war film by director Dang Nhat Minh, released in 1984, has become one of the 18 best Asian films of all time, as selected by CNN. Without bombs and bullets, yet still conveying profound sorrow, the film tells the story of Duyen, played by Meritorious Artist Le Van, a young wife who must hide her grief over the loss of her husband from her family.

Meritorious Artist Huu Muoi - who played the role of teacher Khang - couldn't hide his emotions when recalling: "The film left me with many memories, both happy and deeply sad. I've never seen two actors from the same film receive awards. It's a very honorable feeling."

The role of teacher Khang didn't come to Nguyen Huu Muoi by chance. Director Dang Nhat Minh once said that he had just finished playing teacher Thu (in the film).Vu Dai Village in those days - PV) and the role of Teacher Khang had similar characteristics, which made Huu Muoi very sad. But a few months later, the director said that after thinking it over, he would feel more comfortable in the role.

However, this precious opportunity was almost lost due to an unfortunate incident. While filming the traditional Vietnamese opera scene, Huu Muoi was distracted by fans. He recounted, with a hint of regret in his voice: "I was almost fired from this role when I was nearly halfway through filming. When I was fired, my artistic horizons crumbled. My dream of becoming a state-sponsored actor vanished into thin air."

While the crew was preparing to film, he sat chatting with the audience, eating loquats and drinking tea, forgetting his duties, so the crew had to go look for him. By the time Huu Muoi returned, the order to stop filming had been given. He admitted that he had never in his life been scolded so harshly by a director with the words: "You're about to be replaced."

A face that can deliver iconic performances.

Strangely, that very anger created a moment of brilliance. Director Dang Nhat Minh later remembered Huu Muoi's expression so vividly that he still hasn't forgotten that face to this day.

But for Nguyen Huu Muoi, it wasn't a moment of acting, but genuine shame. "When I was scolded, I just wished the ground would crack open so I could crawl into it; that would have been better," Huu Muoi said.

Two years after the incident, while studying directing and filmmaking, he truly understood why directors have such temper tantrums. Huu Muoi realized that a director who arrives late to the set and sees actors not focusing on their roles lacks professional discipline.

Acting alongside Le Van and Huu Muoi was a great honor. "She just needed to put on a brown dress, and everyone would recognize her as a quintessential rural woman. Acting with Le Van back then was a joy," the artist recounted.

Heritage and influence

When will October come?The film not only brought director Dang Nhat Minh fame both domestically and internationally but also inspired many generations of filmmakers. After the film won numerous awards, Huu Muoi also wanted to become a director to have more control over his creative work.

Nguyen Huu Muoi expressed his deep respect for his senior colleague. "Almost all the actors in director Dang Nhat Minh's films have won individual Golden Lotus awards. After the film..."When will October come?"Whoever plays the lead role in the film, Dang Nhat Minh, seems to have a sure chance of winning the individual award," Huu Muoi shared.

Nguyen Huu Muoi remarked that although his acting career only lasted 10 years, the opportunity to participate was still valuable.When will October come?It left an unforgettable mark on his life - and that is what meant the most to him.