Cinema spreads Vietnamese cultural values to the world

A scene from the film "Brilliant Ashes".

Beauty in every frame

Throughout its development, Vietnamese cinema has repeatedly left its mark on the world art map. From wartime films like "The Wild Field" (Golden Lotus Award, Gold Medal at the 1980 Moscow Film Festival) to "When Will October Come?" (ranked among the top 18 best Asian films of all time by CNN), the image of a resilient and humane Vietnam has touched the hearts of international audiences.

Entering a period of renewal, Vietnamese films are gradually moving towards contemporary life with works rich in poetic qualities and deeply rooted in the homeland's identity. Victor Vũ's film "I See Yellow Flowers on Green Grass," adapted from the novel by writer Nguyễn Nhật Ánh, was not only a box office success but also captivated foreign audiences with the serene, lush green scenery of Phú Yên .

For example, the film "Brilliant Night" by American director Aaron Toronto and the film "Brilliant Ashes" by director Bui Thac Chuyen share a commonality: they both incorporate many local elements into their settings. "Brilliant Night" is set in a Southern Vietnamese funeral, where guests are entertained by performances. Meanwhile, "Brilliant Ashes" recreates the unique riverine life of the Mekong Delta. The filmmakers meticulously incorporated many images and details reflecting local culture, such as children jumping from monkey bridges to bathe in the river, and the traditional fishing methods of the Mekong Delta.

Beyond art, cinema is also closely linked to tourism . After the film "Kong: Skull Island" chose Ninh Binh and Ha Long as filming locations, the number of international tourists visiting these areas increased significantly. Although the film was produced by Hollywood, its impact on promoting Vietnam's image is undeniable. This shows that even a single beautiful frame can become an invitation to tourists from all over the world.

Dr. Nguyen Van Tinh, former Director of the Department of International Cooperation (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), believes that Vietnamese cinema is truly an entertainment industry with an extremely important role and significance in the building and development of Vietnamese culture. Born amidst the flames of wars for independence and national reunification, as well as in the process of national construction and development, especially in the context of the country's current progress, Vietnamese cinema has always excellently fulfilled its mission and task of contributing to introducing the incredibly beautiful image of Vietnam, its people, and its unique, colorful cultural identity to the world. Through this, it contributes to promoting exchange relations for peace, friendship, and sustainable development between Vietnam and the international community.

A long-term strategy is needed.

Despite its great potential, Vietnam still has much work to do before cinema truly becomes a tool for promoting culture. In reality, the number of Vietnamese films reaching the international market remains limited, mostly limited to participation in film festivals, with few works being widely distributed. This is due to scripts that don't deeply explore cultural values, fragmented production processes, a lack of substantial funding, and a shortage of well-trained personnel.

In the context of fierce competition, where South Korea, Thailand, and Japan have transformed film into "tourist guides" and tools for national branding, Vietnam needs a more systematic strategy. According to experts, the government should continue to support the film industry, from investment funds for production to human resource training. Businesses, especially private film companies, need to boldly invest in scripts that creatively and attractively exploit cultural identity while remaining relevant to international tastes.

According to Master Huynh Cong Khoi Nguyen - Director of the Cinema Cultural Center in Ho Chi Minh City, for Vietnamese cinema to better fulfill its mission as a bridge connecting and widely disseminating national cultural values in line with the orientation of "internationalizing Vietnamese cultural identity," it is necessary to supplement and improve the mechanisms and policies on cinema as a foundation. Improving the quality of feature films that deeply explore Vietnamese cultural themes, with a focus on raising the cultural level of filmmakers, is crucial. Simultaneously, diversifying film distribution and dissemination activities is essential to maximize the value of cinematic works and ensure films quickly reach a wide audience through all available media and platforms, while further strengthening the presence of Vietnamese films on the international stage.

Therefore, promoting Vietnamese culture through cinema requires the joint efforts of many parties: supportive policies from the government, the dedication of filmmakers, the partnership of businesses, and public support. When all these elements converge, Vietnamese cinema can truly shine, becoming a powerful "cultural passport" in the journey of international integration.

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