Meet and interact with the cast and crew of the film "The Scent of Burning Grass".

"The smell of burning grass"This is a Vietnamese film in the psychological, social, and war genres. The main setting of the film is the fiery summer of 1972, specifically the Battle of Quang Tri Citadel. The main characters are four students from Hanoi University (Hoang, Thanh, Thang, and Long) who, following a general mobilization order, enlisted in the army in 1971, received accelerated training, and participated in the battle at Quang Tri Citadel in 1972. There, Thanh, Thang, and Long were killed, while Hoang miraculously survived and returned home. The film is told from Hoang's memories, as he revisits the old battlefield.

""The smell of burning grass"Produced by the Vietnam Feature Film Studio and directed by Huu Muoi, the film's script was written by poet Hoang Nhuan Cam, based on the diary "Forever Twenty Years Old" of martyr Nguyen Van Thac. Filming began in December 2010, and the film was specially selected to participate in the 17th Vietnam Film Festival in Phu Yen, where it was screened at the opening ceremony of the film week and won the Silver Lotus Award. In 2012, the film was awarded four Golden Kite Awards for Best Feature Film, Best Music (composer Do Hong Quan), Best Screenplay (Hoang Nhuan Cam), and Best Cinematography (Meritorious Artist Pham Thanh Ha) at the 2011 Golden Kite Awards ceremony.

Poster for the movie "The Scent of Burning Grass"

"The smell of burnt grass" is considered a successful war film, not only for its realistic and vivid portrayal of the 81-day and 81-night defense of Quang Tri Citadel, showcasing the unwavering and indomitable spirit of an entire nation fighting for independence and freedom, but also for its ability to transport viewers back to the heroic memories of the time when countless university students put aside their studies to fight in response to the call of the Fatherland.

Some images from the film "The Scent of Burning Grass"

The film was praised for deeply moving audiences with its portrayal of everyday tragedies and the sacrifices of young people during wartime, carrying with them aspirations for family, love, and friendship. Director Huu Muoi and his film crew were also commended for mastering their complex storytelling style, restraining poetic ambitions, and creating genuine, innocent laughter from everyday life amidst the brutal backdrop of war, leaving a profound impression on viewers. The actors also delivered simple, natural performances, capturing the innocence and individuality of the four main characters.

During the exchange night, faculty and students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities had the opportunity to interact and chat with members of the film crew, including director and Meritorious Artist Vu Dinh Than (the film's assistant director); poet and screenwriter Hoang Nhuan Cam; and actors Le Chi Kien, Le Van Thom, Nguyen Thanh Son, To Tuan Dung, etc.

Students took souvenir photos with the artists at the exchange event.

The discussion revolved around the process of researching material and details to build the film script; the thematic ideas that the director and screenwriter wanted to convey in the work; the process of understanding and mastering the psychology of the main actors - young, non-professional actors participating in a film for the first time; the difficulties in building the setting for the film; and the personal memories and emotions of each member during the making of this film...

The exchange night served as a bridge, bringing the audience—faculty and students of the university—closer to the artists through their sharing of their professional experiences. Students also gained a deeper understanding of an outstanding film on the theme of war, thereby appreciating the losses as well as the will and resilience of the youth during wartime. This helped them to better value life in peacetime and to recognize the responsibilities of the younger generation towards the country today.