Vietnam.vn - Nền tảng quảng bá Việt Nam

Bach Long and Trinh Kim Chi were emotional while filming "Behind the Velvet Curtain" VTV 9

(NLDO) - The tribute to the stage and those who keep the artistic fire alive was emotionally staged by director Mai Huong (VTV9).

Người Lao ĐộngNgười Lao Động17/10/2025


Bạch Long, Trịnh Kim Chi xúc động khi lam phim

Meritorious Artist Bach Long, People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi and People's Artist Tran Minh Ngoc at the Vietnamese wax statue workshop

On October 16, Vietnam Television Center in Ho Chi Minh City (VTV9) just filmed scenes of a special documentary called "Behind the Velvet Curtain", edited and directed by Vu Mai Huong.

Trinh Kim Chi - An emotional return

The film was directed by Mr. Tu Luong - Director of VTV 9 and organized by Bui Dinh Duong. This is a 30-minute documentary without commentary, considered an evocative work of art, recreating the journey of more than a century of Vietnamese theater - from the legend of the Founder, Cai Luong, dialogue drama to contemporary theater.

In the film, People's Artists Tran Minh Ngoc, Trinh Kim Chi and Meritorious Artist Bach Long appear as storytellers, the "living souls" of the stage when they transform from their own wax statues in the Vietnamese Wax Statue Studio of sculptor Nguyen Thi Dien.

That unique way of expression has helped "Behind the Velvet Curtain" to be both cinematic and imbued with poetry and humanistic depth.

Bạch Long, Trịnh Kim Chi xúc động khi lam phim

People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi in the documentary "Behind the Velvet Curtain" VTV 9

From the legend of the ancestors to today's stage dream

The film opens with the image of wax statues of the artists "coming to life" amidst thunder and the resounding music of the song "Ancestor's Death Anniversary". Meritorious Artist Bach Long and People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi recount the legend of the founder of the profession Pham Thi Tran, along with the meaning of the three Holy Ancestors - Tien Su, To Su, Thanh Su - symbolizing the process of enlightenment, preservation and development of Vietnamese stage art.

From there, the film takes viewers through the journey of formation and development of the country's theater: from the Ca Ra Bo movement to the birth of Cai Luong, recorded through her narration and documents.

Bạch Long, Trịnh Kim Chi xúc động khi lam phim

People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi (center) in the documentary "Behind the Velvet Curtain" VTV 9

Professor Dr. Tran Van Khe; People's Artist Nam Chau, the one who laid the foundation for "beautiful and true cai luong"; and People's Artist Kim Cuong, the pioneer in bringing Southern drama closer to the public - all are precious documentary footage that director Vu Mai Huong devoted her mind to finding and putting into the film.

Bach Long - hoping for the light behind the curtain

In the middle of the film are memories of the period after 1975, when the Ho Chi Minh City reformed theater entered a period of prosperity and then decline, giving way to the rise of spoken drama.

From Stage 5B Vo Van Tan to Phu Nhuan, Hoang Thai Thanh, Lac Long Quan Club, Tran Huu Trang Theater, artists are still diligently sticking to their profession, finding their own audiences, and passing on their profession to the younger generation.

Documentary footage, interspersed with behind-the-scenes footage of the daily lives of Meritorious Artist Bach Long, People's Artist My Uyen, People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi, Meritorious Artist Binh Tinh, creates a flow of genuine emotions - where love for the profession overcomes difficulties.

Images of students watching cải lương at school, artists performing at Thị Nghệ Nursing Home, or the Bạch Long Children's Group practicing... all illuminate the enduring spirit of stage artists.

Bạch Long, Trịnh Kim Chi xúc động khi lam phim

From left to right: Director Vu Mai Huong, Meritorious Artist Tuyet Thu and Meritorious Artist Le Nguyen Dat were all trained at the School of Stage Arts II - now the University of Theatre and Cinema, Ho Chi Minh City.

Director and editor Vu Mai Huong (VTV9) said: "I want to make a film not to retell history through commentary, but to let the artists tell history through their own breath. They step out of the wax statue, meaning they have transformed into the heritage - living with the heritage, and they are the ones who keep that heritage from cooling down.

For me, 'Behind the Curtain' is a common dream of those who love the stage - a place where artists and audiences can still meet each other with real emotions. I hope this film is not only a tribute to the past, but also a wake-up call to believe in a bright future for Vietnamese stage."

Director Vu Mai Huong also shared that the film making process lasted for many months, with filming sessions at the Viet Wax Studio, the City Theater, Thi Nghe Nursing Home and socialized stages. "We want the audience to feel the heartbeat of the stage, where there are tears, smiles, and the breath of the profession passed down through each generation," she said.

People's Artist Tran Minh Ngoc said: "Vu Mai Huong is my student, studying and graduating from the first course of the joint training between the Hanoi University of Theatre and Cinema and the School of Theatre Arts II - now the University of Theatre and Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vu Mai Huong is the daughter-in-law of the late People's Artist Can Truong - the famous artist who played the character Lenin in the classic play "The Kremlin Clock Bell".

Bạch Long, Trịnh Kim Chi xúc động khi lam phim

A scene from the documentary "Behind the Velvet Curtain" VTV 9

Aspiration for a new "stage sanctuary"

The final part of the film is a message from People's Artist Tran Minh Ngoc, People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi and Meritorious Artist Bach Long - three generations sharing the same dream: to have a modern central stage, worthy of the position of Ho Chi Minh City, where artists can work with pride, and audiences can relive the golden moments.

In the fading light of the Wax Studio, the character of Meritorious Artist Bach Long softly said: "When will the stage be lit up again like before?". That question ended the film, but opened up a belief - that behind the velvet curtain, the flame of art has never been extinguished.

The documentary "Behind the Velvet Curtain" is not just a television product, but a work of art containing love and gratitude.

With wordless storytelling, only through light, music and the artist's eyes, VTV9 sent the audience an emotional symphony about Vietnamese theater - past, present and future.

"Every artist has a velvet curtain in their heart. And with just one light, that stage will be revived" - director Vu Mai Huong said.


Source: https://nld.com.vn/bach-long-trinh-kim-chi-xuc-dong-khi-dong-phim-sau-canh-man-nhung-vtv-9-196251017092829812.htm


Comment (0)

No data
No data

Same tag

Same category

Young people go to the Northwest to check in during the most beautiful rice season of the year
In the season of 'hunting' for reed grass in Binh Lieu
In the middle of Can Gio mangrove forest
Quang Ngai fishermen pocket millions of dong every day after hitting the jackpot with shrimp

Same author

Heritage

Figure

Enterprise

Com lang Vong - the taste of autumn in Hanoi

News

Political System

Destination

Product