Screening of 17 typical Vietnamese films in France

The series tells the story of Vietnam through cinematic language, from wartime to peacetime, showing a nation rich in identity but always ready to integrate and absorb the quintessence of the world.

Program poster. (Photo: Organizing Committee)

The “Vietnamese Cinema - Journey of Light” Week will take place from December 5-12 at Le Grand Rex cinema in Paris. This is one of the largest cinemas in Europe, as well as one of the cultural icons of France.

According to the organizers, this is the first time a large-scale program like this has been held in France, aiming to introduce an overview of Vietnamese cinema in the past half century since the country's reunification (April 30, 1975).

The film week is the opening activity and part of the series of events "Vietnam - The Symphony of Love" initiated by AVSE Global, aiming to promote Vietnamese culture deeply to the world . The film week is co-organized by the Vietnam Cinema Promotion and Development Association (VFDA) and sponsored by the Embassy of Vietnam in France.

Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of the Vietnam Film Promotion and Development Association (VFDA). (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

The theme "Vietnamese Cinema - Journey of Light" was directly chosen by Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan - President of VFDA.

At the online press conference between Vietnam and France on November 14, she shared that the name was inspired by the flow of Vietnamese cinema from wartime to peacetime, from the early years of renovation to the current integration period.

This name evokes the "city of light" Paris, and pays tribute to the Lumière brothers - the founders of world cinema in 1895, and also means "light."

“I believe that this film program will be worthy of the name we have given it,” Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan shared.

She hopes this will be a place to reflect the nation's "journey of light", the light of peace after the war, the strong changes in the Doi Moi period and the modern appearance of the country in the industrialization and modernization period.

Online press conference between Vietnam and France. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

The 17 selected films are works that have been selected and won awards at major international film festivals such as Hawaii, Cannes, Busan, Berlin, Nantes... as well as high awards in Vietnam.

The series includes “When Will October Come,” “Wild Fields,” “Apartment Buildings” (produced before 1986); “Retired Generals” (released in 1988); “Don’t Be Afraid,” “Children in the Mist,” “Coolies Never Cry,” “I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass,” “Rain on Butterfly Wings,” “Glorious Ashes,” “Be Awake and Ready,” “Clouds But No Rain,” “Somewhere by the Hospital,” “Elephants by the Roadside,” and “Song Lang” (produced from 2010 to present).

Along with the above films, there are also newly produced films that have created a cultural and social phenomenon in Vietnam recently: " Red Rain" and "Air Deathmatch" (2025). This is the first time the two films have been shown in Europe.

Representing the initiating unit, Professor Nguyen Duc Khuong hopes that the Vietnamese Cinema Week in Paris will not only be a cultural event, but also a bridge connecting emotions, knowledge and national pride.

“Cinema, with its power to spread across borders, is the door for the world to understand Vietnam. Not only stopping in Paris, this is the first step in the journey to bring Vietnamese cinema to many other countries, expanding the global network of cultural and artistic cooperation,” Mr. Nguyen Duc Khuong shared.

From left to right: Professor Nguyen Duc Khuong, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang and journalist Nguyen My Linh. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

According to Mr. Dinh Toan Thang, Vietnamese Ambassador to France, the Vietnamese cinema week in Paris is an opportunity to discuss in more depth the development of Vietnamese cinema, seek support, and expand new connections with French filmmakers.

"We look forward to stronger cooperation projects in the future, contributing to creating new milestones in the Vietnam-France cultural cooperation relationship and contributing to a better future," the Vietnamese Ambassador to France shared.

According to information from VFDA, the Vietnam Cinema Week in Paris will be attended by cultural activists, film experts, Vietnamese filmmakers including famous directors, producers, actors and artists.

In addition to special screenings and opening and closing ceremonies, the film week also offers a panoramic exhibition on Vietnamese cinema, exchanges and discussions with film lovers, young filmmakers, and a workshop on Vietnam-France cinema cooperation.

Audiences in France register to participate via the website: vietnamsymphonyoflove.com/tuan-le-dien-anh-viet-nam/

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/chieu-17-tac-pham-phim-tieu-bieu-cua-dien-anh-viet-nam-tai-phap-post1077078.vnp