Artist Quang Dat, born in 1962, is originally from Da Nang and currently lives in Binh Thuan province. He has participated in over 100 films, both domestic and international, in various roles: director, actor, martial arts consultant, production designer, etc. (domestic films: Tay Son Hiep Khach, Ngoc Tran Than Cong, Criminal Police, My Nhan ...; films co-produced with foreign countries: The Quiet American - USA, Goodbye Ba River - South Korea...). As People's Artist and director Dao Ba Son - a "veteran" of Vietnamese cinema - said: Quang Dat has an extraordinary passion for film.
Artist Quang Dat next to the film editing equipment of the famous movie "The Wild Field" - PHOTO: NGUYEN ANH
Traces of time inside the museum.
For decades, artist Quang Dat has traveled from North to South Vietnam, searching for and collecting items and memorabilia related to the country's film industry and the figures who have made significant contributions to this art form. Some things that others consider old and outdated are priceless mementos to Quang Dat.
For example, he collected, preserved, and considered a "treasure"—the film editing machine used for post-production of the film " The Wild Field" (released in 1979, which won numerous awards both domestically and internationally; director: Nguyen Hong Sen, screenwriter: Nguyen Quang Sang). Or he traveled everywhere, asking for 99 pairs of shoes from famous directors and actors to create a unique collection: Footprints of Artistic Time.
Visiting the home of the "eccentric" collector of 1,000 film memorabilia in the heart of Binh Thuan.
He said he only asked for one shoe, because if he asked for a pair, his friends would think he was being opportunistic or selling things off. "I still remember the time I went to ask for a shoe from the late Meritorious Artist Ho Kieng (famous for his role as 'the sleeping old man' or 'the old man eating raw fish' in the film ' Southern Land' (directed by Nguyen Vinh Son), which haunted viewers). He only had one pair of dress shoes, but he readily gave me one," artist Quang Dat said. But afterwards, he immediately bought a new pair of shoes and gave them back to artist Ho Kieng.
The Film Museum is a magnificent collection, reflecting Quang Dat's entire life and love for cinema.
People's Artist Dao Ba Son
Gradually, many people in the industry, knowing that he collected film memorabilia, proactively contacted him to entrust or gift him with "treasures" preserved by the families of the deceased. For example, the family of the late director and Meritorious Artist Khương Mễ donated all of his personal belongings from his lifetime, such as cameras, projectors, medals, and decorations.
He explained: "I'm afraid that in the future, everything will fade away, and few people will know how much hardship and struggle our ancestors went through to create films like these. I want to preserve the 'youthful days of cinema' through each item, each simple story, that's all."
Artist Quang Dat next to the car with 499 signatures from artists and writers - PHOTO: NGUYEN ANH
The car of love and loss
Artist Quang Dat has been recognized by the Vietnam Book of Records Center for many records, such as: a Lambretta scooter with 449 signatures from famous artists and writers; a pen with 99 signatures from reporters and journalists; a film camera with 99 signatures from cameramen…
Currently, the car contains 499 signatures from artists and writers, evoking many emotions in him. Each time he uses a red pen to mark an "x" next to someone's signature, it signifies a farewell to a life. He explains that the number of red "x"s on the car gradually increases, following a natural pattern... Le Cong Tuan Anh (the actor who committed suicide at the peak of his career) was the first person whose signature he marked with an "x," in pain and sorrow. He had acted in films, plays, and worked on projects with Le Cong Tuan Anh many times – a contemporary friend… This car, filled with memories, now has over 80 red "x" marks.
Visiting Quang Dat's Film Museum is like stepping into cinematic stories unlike anywhere else. And it is precisely because of these treasures and the vivid stories within that museum that someone once offered 29 billion VND for all the artifacts he collected. He refused, saying that if it were for money, he would have spent his whole life earning money instead of sacrificing his youth to search for cinematic artifacts.
The Film Museum of artist Quang Dat in Binh Thuan - PHOTO: QUANG VINH
Few people know that Quang Dat is a martial arts master with a dojo in Long Hai (Vung Tau), but driven by his passion for film, he dedicated himself to the seventh art. He participated in many films, but mostly played villainous roles, either rapists or cruel murderers. For example, in 1995, he played the "bald man" who vandalized the tomb of Vo Thi Sau in the film " Like a Legend ." Although he only appeared in a few scenes, "the bald man - Quang Dat" caused outrage among viewers. People even hated him in real life. He only explained that it was a role. As People's Artist Dao Ba Son said, Quang Dat was as evil in the film as he was kind and lovable in real life. "When Quang Dat came to Ho Chi Minh City to work in the arts, he stayed at my house. My mother loved Quang Dat like her own son. I and Dat are like brothers. Dat always plays villainous roles, but anyone who knows Dat will understand how kind and loyal he is."
Regarding Quang Dat, director Hong Phu Vinh said: "I've known Quang Dat for over 20 years now. In the profession, he respects his elders and is gentle and never holds grudges even against those who cause him trouble. Twenty years ago, I heard him confide that he wanted to collect artifacts and memorabilia from Vietnamese cinema into a collection. I thought he was joking, but unexpectedly, he actually did it. Without passion and perseverance, it would be difficult for him to build the Cinema Museum as it is today. Anything related to the history of Vietnamese cinema that anyone wants to know can be found at Quang Dat's museum."
Quang Dat is a Vespa rider who has completed seven meaningful cross-Vietnam journeys. For example, in 2006, he undertook a cross-Vietnam trip titled "For Victims of Agent Orange." In 2008, he continued his journey for the second time: "For Vietnamese Childhood," raising over 300 million VND to buy warm clothes for poor children; and for three consecutive years, he raised 800 million VND to support many heroic Vietnamese mothers across the country…
He also holds the record for the most cross-country trips in Vietnam for charity work.
In 2009, artist Quang Dat decided to build a Film Museum on his family's 130 m² property in Binh Thuan province to conveniently gather and display priceless artifacts such as: the original scripts of the late director Hong Sen, antique film projectors that once served remote villages, 20 film cameras, including the camera of cinematographer Le Dung, the late People's Artist Nguyen The Doan, the late People's Artist Duong Tuan Ba (winner of the award for best cinematographer in the film "The Wild Field "), the late Meritorious Artist Khuong Me, the late People's Artist Pham Khac, and others.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/danh-ca-doi-di-tim-ky-vat-dien-anh-185250210103424954.htm
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