When gratitude becomes a cultural flow

"Drinking water, remember the source" is an idiom about gratitude in a figurative sense, but "drinking water," understood literally, is deeply ingrained in human biology; it's something that happens to each person every day. Therefore, gratitude shouldn't just be expressed on a holiday marked on a calendar, but should be remembered regularly.

Seventy-eight years ago, July 27th was chosen as the day to honor wounded soldiers and martyrs – but honoring them is not something confined to a single holiday. Therefore, cinema, music , literature, and other powerful artistic mediums need to become the path for war memories to remain vibrant in today's life. Just a few days ago, on the afternoon of July 23rd in Hanoi, the film "Red Rain" was launched as a "showcase" (a media event for the film project) before its planned theatrical release on August 22nd.

Red Rain is a tragic story about soldiers and the 81-day battle at Quang Tri Citadel, based on the novel of the same name by writer Chu Lai. At the premiere screening, the film's banner displayed the inscription: "Blood and bones spilled, the earth and sky remember!" Although not yet officially released, following the film's journey, especially being filmed in Quang Tri itself with a studio by the Thach Han River, along with the well-invested script, director, and actors, the film was predicted to create a "box office sensation" despite its revolutionary war theme. This is similar to what happened with the film "Underground Tunnels" a few months earlier, when it premiered on the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, attracting an unexpectedly large audience, and even more surprisingly, a significant portion of the audience were young people!

For a long time, some films about revolutionary wars have often been illustrative, propagandistic, lacking in cinematic merit, and even associated with a "commemorative" mentality. But now, these "tribute" works have adopted a new, more cinematic, and modern storytelling approach, focusing on character depth, not shying away from loss and tragedy, while still preserving the indomitable spirit and revolutionary heroism. "The Tunnels," inspired by the legendary Cu Chi tunnel system during the resistance war, not only recreates the miracle of people's war but also explores the psychological depth and human condition, making it highly persuasive. What's special is that "The Tunnels" became a box office sensation – something very rare for revolutionary war films over the past decades. Young people flocked to this film not only to enjoy a quality cinematic work but also to express their gratitude to the older generation who sacrificed for today, and to understand what they must do to continue writing the story of peace . Following the Tunnels, the upcoming Red Rain continues the unwavering tradition of gratitude towards those who fell yesterday.

Sacrifice – that is also something very concrete happening these days, as tens of thousands of soldiers are rushing into disaster-stricken areas to save people in western Nghe An, just as they toiled for months in Lang Nu (Lao Cai) to save people and rebuild villages after last year's disaster. And who knows, one day there will be films telling about today, just as today is telling about yesterday! Such cinematic works not only remind us of gratitude. Because gratitude is not just about looking back, but also about living on, living worthy of those who have fallen. And July 27th has become a milestone not only to remember those who sacrificed for the Fatherland, but also to reflect on how a nation responds to its history. Remembering is not just about flowers, not just about ceremonies. Because if it stops at the event, it will soon fade with time. But if gratitude is a part of living culture, it will endure as a unique identity of the nation.

AN DU

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/khi-tri-an-tro-thanh-mot-dong-chay-van-hoa-post805640.html