Discussion "Flow, Film: Inspiring Cinema from Nguyen Huy Thiep's Works"

The event is part of the film week adapted from the works of writer Nguyen Huy Thiep. This is an activity to pay tribute to Nguyen Huy Thiep and his contributions. His works not only stop at the literary field, but also become an endless source of inspiration for directors to create their own cinematic works.

Within the framework of the film week, the Cinema Club has chosen to screen the films "Missing the Countryside", "The Rippers" and "Mother's Soul".

All three films are adapted from works of the same name by writer Nguyen Huy Thiep. Each film tells different stories, set in different time periods. However, they all portray characters with great inner strength. They do not give up in the face of life's difficulties and always aspire for good values ​​that transcend the tragedies of the present.

In particular, the seminar had the participation of film directors: Director People's Artist Dang Nhat Minh, Director Meritorious Artist Vuong Duc, Director Meritorious Artist Pham Nhue Giang; film researchers: Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Xuan Thach, Dr. Nguyen Thi Nam Hoang, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Dr. Hoang Cam Giang. The seminar also had the participation of many lecturers and researchers from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNU), Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi University of Theatre and Cinema.

Sharing about the adaptation of Nguyen Huy Thiep's story, director Dang Nhat Minh said that bringing "Thuong nho dong que" to the screen was a fate for him: "The short story "Thuong nho dong que" gave me the passion to turn it into a film and I just kept writing the script". According to the director, one of the factors that creates the "cinematic quality" in Nguyen Huy Thiep's story is that the writer never reveals the message. This is a characteristic very close to cinema.

Director Dang Nhat Minh shared at the event

According to director Pham Nhue Giang, the stories of writer Nguyen Huy Thiep not only inspired her to make films, but they also hold a lot of meaning for the director personally. The stories were once director Pham Nhue Giang's "bedside books". "Nguyen Huy Thiep's stories have people who love their homeland very much, but they are also helpless in the face of difficult lives. However, they still keep the desire to go to the sea, towards good things. That is also the desire of all Vietnamese people" - the director shared.

Director Pham Nhue Giang commented: "The issues and stories in Nguyen Huy Thiep's works are never old, and will always go with the times."

According to director Vuong Duc, one of the things that makes writer Nguyen Huy Thiep unique is the layers of meaning built into his works: "Mr. Nguyen Huy Thiep is a writer with ideas. His writing has many layers of meaning, and the better the writing, the harder it is to adapt."

Director Vuong Duc shares at the seminar

At the seminar, film researchers shared their thoughts on the evocative power of Nguyen Huy Thiep's stories. Associate Professor Dr. Pham Xuan Thach said: "Among the writers after Doi Moi, Nguyen Huy Thiep is the one with the deepest affinity for cinema. His stories evoke many things that touch our common sympathy." According to him, it is the unique issues and atmosphere in Nguyen Huy Thiep's stories that motivate directors to be creative.

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Xuan Thach shared at the seminar

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, as a researcher on the issue of adaptation, commented: "Nguyen Huy Thiep's stories have the ability to create endless chains of creation. Nguyen Huy Thiep's textual life has continued in adapted works. The films have touched the vulnerable fates in society. All three films have created beautiful dialogues with the original text."

Literary works and cinema always have a two-sided relationship and influence each other. "On the first side, it is the appeal of literary works that convinces filmmakers to adapt the story to the screen. From there, the film has created a new life for literary works and this new life leads the source text to readers" - Dr. Nguyen Thi Nam Hoang commented.

The life of the literary works of writer Nguyen Huy Thiep will certainly not stop in the literary field or in the era we are living in. Like the title "Flow, my river", the hidden streams of thought of Nguyen Huy Thiep will flow forever in our hearts, a belief and aspiration for good things will always be there in life.