Impressions and emotions evoked by "Memories of Dien Bien Phu"

"Memories of Dien Bien Phu" is a film produced by the Vietnam Feature Film Studio in 2004, directed by Meritorious Artist Do Minh Tuan. The story takes place during the Dien Bien Phu campaign in 1954. Bao, a member of the National Guard, and May, a nurse, escort a French prisoner named Becna back to the rear base. Along the way, many tragicomic and romantic events occur between the three characters. During this journey, love blossoms between Bao and May. Fifty years later, Becna returns to Vietnam and reunites with Bao. The memories of Dien Bien Phu – though brutal, still sparkling with human kindness – are powerful and unforgettable in the lives of the main characters.

The stage setting during the exchange night.

The film is a successful and emotionally resonant cinematic work, despite its war-related subject matter which can easily fall into the trap of conventional propaganda. Its success is primarily due to a team of skilled professionals: director Do Minh Tuan, screenwriter Nguyen Thi Hong Ngat, cinematographer Nguyen Duc Viet, art designer Vu Huy, and composer Trong Dai. While depicting the great victory at Dien Bien Phu, the film chooses to reflect on it from the perspective of three characters, three ordinary individuals experiencing war through their simple stories. War serves as the backdrop and crucial catalyst leading to the characters' encounters, their clash of thoughts and emotions, ultimately resulting in the film's profound life lessons. The realistic and emotionally rich story, along with the natural performances of the two young actors, Kieu Anh (playing May) and Pham Quang Anh (playing Bao), has left a lasting impression on viewers.

Director and Meritorious Artist Do Minh Tuan graduated from the Faculty of Literature, Hanoi University (now the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi). He studied directing at the School of Theatre and Film and worked at the Vietnam Feature Film Studio. As a writer, poet, literary critic, film director, and painter, he has won numerous awards in various artistic fields, including: First prize in the 1988-1989 Literature and Arts Newspaper Poetry Contest; Third prize in the 3rd Novel Contest of the Vietnam Writers Association; Second prize in the 1976 Songwriting Contest about the Capital; and Best Director at the 2004 Golden Kite Film Festival for the film "Memories of Dien Bien Phu"... He is also known to audiences for his feature films such as:"The Lamp in the Dream", "The Laughing Translation", "The Woman Playing in the Sand", "Flowers of Heaven", "King of the Garbage Dump"He is also the author of many successful television series such as:"The Trickster", "Voting for the City God", "Early Tet", "Waking Up My Husband", "Eva's Secret"...

Sharing his thoughts at the exchange session, director Do Minh Tuan said:Never before has a film allowed me to pour so much creative emotion into it as I did into "Memories of Dien Bien Phu".He also appreciated the logic of reflecting war through the very personal perspectives, thoughts, and emotions of each character. Thanks to this, the impression of war emerges profoundly in very ordinary situations, even in the haunting memories and nostalgia of each person, bringing depth and meaning to the film.

The film's theatrical release attracted over 2 million viewers at the time – an impressive number – and was licensed for distribution in five countries. This brought unparalleled happiness to the director, because"The film has brought the image of the kind and courageous Vietnamese people to friends around the world."At the same time, the press and experts assessed that this film broke away from the cliché of commemorative films, showcasing the creativity and unique exploration of the director and screenwriter.

Sharing about the difficulties during the filmmaking process, director Do Minh Tuan said: the biggest challenge was creating a Dien Bien Phu setting during wartime with guns, bombs, and bunkers that was as realistic and historically accurate as possible. In addition, many scenes involving airplanes and parachuting from helicopters were very complex and required assistance from many relevant units. But all of these challenges were overcome thanks to the dedication and efforts of the entire film crew. The battlefield set design in the film was considered excellent, contributing to the film's success.

Artist Vu Huy made a significant contribution to the film "Memories of Dien Bien Phu," which received much praise from viewers who said: "The film accurately reflects their lives in the past." To make "Memories of Dien Bien Phu," the artist had to meticulously research documents and images about this historical period to create the most authentic settings and costumes. The battlefield scenes, De Castries' bunkers, gun emplacements, hills... were all recreated to a 1:1 scale. When asked if he felt disheartened that the role of a set designer in a historical film is so important yet so often overlooked, artist Vu Huy shared:"I don't mind this; it's the job I chose. If I do my job with enthusiasm and dedication, success will come.".

Kieu Anh and Quang Anh, the two main actors in the film, are also quite familiar faces to television viewers. Kieu Anh is known for her roles in "The Sky Ahead," "The Collective Citizens," etc. Playing two roles simultaneously in "Memories of Dien Bien Phu"—a young female volunteer during wartime and a young woman of modern times born in peacetime—the actress said this was one of the challenges in her acting career. Taking on the role at a very young age, only 24, her life experience and understanding of the context and psychology of people during that historical period were still "immature," so she faced many difficulties in acting. Thanks to the guidance of the director and the help of the film crew, she successfully completed the role and accumulated many acting skills after this film. Kieu Anh also expressed her happiness at receiving the love and affection that young people have shown for her role in this film, even though after the movie, she took an 8-year break from acting to accumulate energy for new breakthroughs and creative endeavors in the future.

Actor Pham Quang Anh also has many unforgettable memories from participating in "Memories of Dien Bien Phu." This was his first role after graduating from the Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Film. Being immediately given a leading role in a major historical film made him both happy and nervous. The director made a rather demanding request: he had to lose 7kg in 10 days to fit the character. Wanting to seize this valuable opportunity, Quang Anh was determined to fulfill the director's request. After 10 days of almost no rice, only vegetables, and exercising like crazy, Quang Anh presented himself to director Do Minh Tuan looking even better than expected: he had lost 8kg! This was an unforgettable first experience for the young actor, and thanks to it, he soon realized the difficulties and hardships of acting behind the glittering glamour of an artist.

The exchange left many young people with much to ponder about humanistic values ​​in life, the beauty of history, and unforgettable values ​​and lessons in the lives of each individual and, more broadly, of an entire nation. The dedication and perseverance of the artists in their artistic endeavors also received the appreciation and empathy of the audience.

Appreciating the humanistic perspective of the work, Associate Professor Dr. Vu Thi Phung (Head of the Department of Archival and Office Management) stated:Director Do Minh Tuan was a student at Hanoi University, now the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. I believe that the knowledge imparted by his professors at this university contributed to shaping his way of thinking and viewing historical issues from a unique perspective, allowing him to create engaging and relatable films, even those dealing with political themes. The most important element is his humanistic approach, which has shaped his distinctive vision and filmmaking style. We and this university are very proud of him!"

Dr. Nguyen Quang Lieu (Head of the Political and Student Affairs Department) expressed his deep gratitude to the film crew, because the film helped the generation of teachers return to historical times, relearning lessons about history that are rich in authenticity, fighting spirit, and yet also extremely romantic. The film also helps bring the younger generation closer to history, from appreciating historical values ​​to cherishing what they have in life today.