'Unwavering determination' bewitches readers.

"Strong Legs, Unyielding Stones" is the third memoir by director Xuan Phuong, which was launched on the morning of May 29th in Ho Chi Minh City, attracting a large audience of the public and artists.

"Hard Feet, Unyielding Stones" continues the narrative of director Xuan Phuong's life, filled with both achievements and ups and downs, following "Carving Burdens" and "Carving and Reuniting." Reading "Hard Feet, Unyielding Stones," I kept hearing the striking self-confession of many: "I only have one strength and one weakness. My strength is a good memory; my weakness is… holding grudges." Caught between remembering and forgetting, loving and hating, caring and resenting, how will 97-year-old director Xuan Phuong navigate his literary journey to reach the shores of literature?

Colleagues congratulate director Xuan Phuong on the launch of his book at the age of 97. Photo: TH

If happiness and the meaning of life are determined by choices, then "Unwavering Determination" is a vivid example. Amidst wartime, while many sought peace and security for their families and themselves, the protagonist, a woman, dared to sacrifice comfort and security to live out her aspirations and ideals. At thirty-seven, a woman who had a high salary and a stable, comfortable life as the head of a medical clinic at the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, decided to change careers and become a war correspondent and documentary filmmaker, facing numerous dangers, death, hardships, and a declining salary.

It's not simply romantic idealism or fleeting idealism, but a profound and heartfelt response to the call of Joris Ivens—the author's first film teacher: "In mid-1967, you desperately need translators and doctors. But even more urgently, you need a team of war correspondents to record firsthand the atrocities the enemy has inflicted on your country, to record firsthand the tenacious fighting spirit in defending every inch of Vietnamese land."

Having volunteered to join the filmmaking profession, and specifically to make war films, director Xuan Phuong, more than anyone else, sensed the disadvantages, sacrifices, hardships, and family burdens, including raising three young children… This decision to dedicate himself to filmmaking also reflects the shared beauty of an entire generation: “Amidst bombs and bullets, the heart remains serene / Though salt is scarce and rice is meager, the mouth still smiles” (To Huu).

Composer Tran Tien spontaneously composed a song inspired by the phrase "Hard feet, soft stones". Photo: TH

The author of "Strong and Unyielding" always feels indebted: indebted to the Fatherland, to his comrades, and to all the international friends who dared to defend, dedicate themselves, and sacrifice for his country. Because of this mindset, writer Xuan Phuong – a living witness, a keeper of memories – will, at the appropriate time, recount and accurately recreate his own and his nation's past and history. This is also the writer's way of repaying his debts, expressing gratitude to his friends, most of whom are no longer present in this world, and thanking the ancestors who have blessed him with a brilliant life.

Alongside the happiness, excitement, and enthusiasm of living a life according to one's dreams, in "Strong Legs, Soft Stones," we often see the protagonist feeling weary and disheartened, "struggling and dizzy" when facing numerous difficulties, dangers, losses, tragedies, and disappointments of both wartime and peacetime. Overcoming adversity to walk the path they have chosen with unwavering passion is the mindset of someone who has foreseen their destiny, "a lifetime of carrying the burden of their work." The unforgettable memories and seemingly insurmountable difficulties of half a century of filmmaking are recounted as an important part of the meaning and true happiness of the author's life and literary career.

Nearly 300 pages long, "Strong Legs, Unyielding Stones" takes readers through a time, beginning in 1967 at the Quan Hau ferry terminal and ending in 1979 in Saigon, from the wartime era filled with bombs and death to the peaceful, subsidized economy with its many difficulties and shortages. The book sets the scene with an "Introductory Preface" containing three sections: "The Story Begins More Than Half a Century Ago," "The First Steps Overcoming Difficulties," and "Taking the First Film." The main part revolves around four themes: "Going to the Mountains," "Going to the Sea," "Friends from Afar," and "Who Says Filmmaking Is Hard?" Finally, the "Concluding Remarks" serves as a finale to this journey.

Leveraging the power of the seventh art in language and imagery, the author of "Strong Legs, Soft Stones" enchants readers through close-up shots: General Chu Van Tan - the "Tiger of Bac Son" - is incredibly ordinary; the unique cars that are pushed along; the classrooms in bomb shelters teeming with leeches; the faces of teachers and friends from around the world who always "carry a piece of Vietnam with them"...

"Chân cứng đá mềm" (Unwavering Stability, Steadfastness) received much positive feedback from writers. Photo: TH

The book's organization is quite eye-catching, and its simple yet captivating narrative style leaves the reader hesitant, half wanting to stop reading, half wanting to close the book to reflect, question, and contemplate.

Reading "Strong Legs, Unwavering Stone," we find a foundation for understanding, trust, and hope, preventing us from falling into the tragedy of oblivion. Vietnamese people today and in the future are grateful for this "journey filled with joys, sorrows, and bitter experiences," which has kept us connected to a painful yet courageous historical umbilical cord, empowering us to continue running alongside the author in the quest for true values ​​and meaning for ourselves and our community.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/chan-cung-da-mem-bo-bua-doc-gia-d813766.html