A boost for the war film genre.

In recent days, the film "Tunnels: The Sun in the Darkness" has unexpectedly achieved box office success. This can be seen as a major boost for the war-historical film genre, which used to be a niche genre appealing to a limited audience.

Officially released on April 4th, the film grossed over 81 billion VND by April 8th, consistently holding the number one position in terms of screenings and revenue across the national cinema system.

While many still think war and revolutionary films are "niche," *The Tunnel: The Sun in the Darkness* has proven otherwise. Perhaps this is the first impetus for this genre to become a promising artistic and commercial product. Not long ago, *Peach, Pho and Piano* – another film about war – was highly praised by the media and critics, creating an unexpected sensation by evoking patriotism and national pride among young people. However, the limited number of screenings meant the film was a hit but didn't thrive, only grossing around 21 billion VND.

On the other hand, one of the reasons why war and revolutionary films are labeled as "niche" is their heavily illustrative storytelling, stiff dialogue, poor visuals, and lack of attention to pacing. People watch them more for "commemoration" than for enjoyment. Gradually, audiences lost interest, investors became hesitant, and cinemas were no longer enthusiastic. But "The Tunnel" has proven that Vietnamese audiences are always excited about historical themes, as long as they are told through the language of cinema in the truest sense. The film demonstrates that if the film industry capitalizes on its current momentum, it will be the ideal time to restart this important genre. Distributors can confidently place their trust in well-invested historical scripts.