VNU-USSH students have the opportunity to learn about classic works of Vietnamese Cinema

Attending the discussion, on behalf of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, there were Associate Professor Dr. Bui Thanh Nam (Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors), Dr. Ngo Thi Kieu Oanh (Chairwoman of the University's Trade Union), former leaders of the University, Faculty of Literature, lecturers, and literary researchers. The discussion was attended by nearly 500 students of the High School for the Gifted in Social Sciences and Humanities and students of the University.
At the seminar, students had a chance to interact directly with People's Artist Nguyen Thanh Van (director of the film "Doi Cat"), Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Cinema, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Costume Designer for the film), Associate Professor Dr. Pham Thanh Hung (former Head of the Faculty of Literature, VNU-USSH). Immediately after the film was shown and deeply moved all viewers, a discussion on “Shadows of Sand” took place, moderated by Associate Professor Dr. Hoang Cam Giang (Department of Art Studies) and student Nguyen Chi Thanh (Cinema Club, Department of Art Studies).
Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thanh Nam, on behalf of the School's Board of Directors, would like to thank director Nguyen Thanh Van, costume designer Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, former teachers and leaders of the School, leaders of the Faculty of Literature, and Department of Art Studies for taking their precious time to attend today's discussion.
Appreciating the significance of the event, Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thanh Nam emphasized: This activity creates an opportunity for students, lecturers of the School to enjoy classic works of Vietnamese cinema in a cozy, intimate space; to listen to sharing and in-depth analysis from experts. Especially for students who love literature at the High School for the Gifted in Social Sciences and Humanities, students of the new major of Cinema and Popular Arts, this event not only helps them equip themselves with more knowledge but also increases their love, suggesting new directions of research and creativity in this interesting field.
Opening the discussion, speaker - director Nguyen Thanh Van shared: The film was shot more than 25 years ago when the equipment was still difficult, the filming locations were scattered from Quang Tri, Quang Binh and Hue, so the whole crew had to make a lot of effort. To create more highlights and creativity for the film compared to the literary work, the film crew traveled to many places in the sunny and windy land of Quang Tri to find a woman with two amputated legs (playing Ms. Hao - a supporting role) and a little girl (Canh and Tam's child) who was also an amateur actress the crew found in Hue. “The sacrifices of soldiers who directly fought in the war have been reflected in many works of art, so I want to approach them from a different angle, which is the image and fate of women facing the losses and lingering spiritual pain of post-war life in the countryside. Through the fate of very ordinary, even anonymous women like the characters Thoa, Tam, Hao in the film, I want to send a message: Behind those small, anonymous, silent and miserable grains of sand is the sparkling beauty of sacrifice, compassion, and love for humanity” - Director Nguyen Thanh Van confided.
Participating in the film as a costume designer, Dr. Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Thu Ha also shared many touching stories about the time from the time of preparing to start filming until the completion of the film.
“You are really lucky to be students of a leading university in the country, a well-trained unit in Social Sciences and Humanities. Today's film screening and discussion is a very meaningful event. When we were students, we also admired actors, directors, and authors of famous literary, artistic, and cinematic works, but we did not always have the opportunity to meet and interact directly. This is a valuable opportunity for you to see that artistic work is extremely hard, but if you have enough passion and determination, success will certainly come. Today, you are students and audiences, but with solid professional knowledge and these valuable experiences, I am sure that after graduation, many of you will become our colleagues, continuing to participate in the process of creating valuable works, contributing to the country's art scene" - Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha shared. According to Associate Professor Dr. Pham Thanh Hung - a lecturer, researcher, and critic of literature and cinema: "Doi Cat is one of the best films of the post-war period, with the tragic fates of a coastal fishing village. The filmmaking style is simple, the way the characters are portrayed is also very natural and gentle, but it tells a very profound story about life, about human destiny, about how to accept loss and pain in a gentle and sincere way".
At the seminar, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Long, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Gia Lam, Researcher Tran Hinh, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Ba Thanh also shared their comments and appreciated the humanistic value of the work "Doi Cat", and hoped that in the coming time, the Department of Cinema and management and production units in the field of art in general and cinema in particular will support, assist and accompany the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in these meaningful activities, to spread the unique cultural and artistic values ​​of the nation and also contribute to the training of human resources in the field of cinema. Dr. Tran Thanh Viet (lecturer at the High School for the Gifted in Social Sciences and Humanities) emphasized the meaning of the film from the perspective of a young audience, a person who teaches literature in school: “I have read the story and watched the film a few times, but today when I watch it again, I still retain the same very emotional feelings. I would like to thank Director Nguyen Thanh Van and the film crew for bringing the audience an extremely valuable film. Being able to directly enjoy the film in the space of the school has brought students of the Gen Z generation wonderful experiences. Surely, along with the teachings of teachers and reading literary works, being able to directly watch classic films will bring students not only knowledge but also evoke good emotions, foster love for the homeland and country, and a noble humanistic spirit”. The images of women in poor, hard-working fishing villages, despite the physical and mental pain left by the war, do not complain, resent, or feel pessimistic, but instead are full of love and hope for a new life, daring to love and longing to be loved! Film is life, art originates from the true material of life. Sand Life once again depicts and glorifies the beauty of anonymous but sparkling grains of sand, or the image of simple but beautiful Vietnamese women! “And this is also the opportunity that the School Union Executive Committee and the Department of Art Studies, Faculty of Literature chose to screen the film as a thank you, a wish for health, happiness and success to all female staff, female students and female pupils of VNU-USSH on the occasion of Vietnamese Women's Day October 20th” – Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Cam Giang (Head of the Department of Art Studies, Faculty of Literature - the co-organizer and content designer of the event) shared. Closing the film screening and discussion, Dr. Ngo Thi Kieu Oanh (President of the School Union) once again deeply thanked Director, People's Artist Nguyen Thanh Van, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha and many teachers of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities for attending and sharing with students very profound comments. In the coming time, the School Union will organize more activities, creating conditions for lecturers and students to learn more about Vietnamese literary and artistic works, serving their study and research work. According to information from the Organizing Committee right after today's film screening, on October 18th, also at this Hall, the Union will organize a screening of the film Children in the Mist and meet and exchange with young director Ha Le Diem. The event is part of a series of activities to celebrate Vietnamese Women's Day October 20th.