HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS ARE PUT ON TOP
In 2025, two large-scale film projects have just been announced, Ho linh trang si - Bi bi mo vuong Dinh and Huyen tinh Da Trach, carrying the expectation of reviving national legends on the screen, while laying the foundation for a potential film genre that has been neglected for many years.
Invested and produced by BHD Company, the film Guardian Spirit - The Mystery of King Dinh's Tomb is inspired by the legend of the mysterious death of King Dinh Tien Hoang and the mysterious journey to protect his sacred tomb. Directed by Nguyen Phan Quang Binh - who made a splash with Endless Field (2010), this new work chooses a modern narrative style, combining martial arts - psychology - emotions to recreate an epic story imbued with Vietnamese culture.
An audition for the movie Huyen Tinh Da Trach
According to the film director's revelation to Thanh Nien reporter , in Ho linh trang si - Bi am mo vuong Dinh , Vietnamese historical and cultural elements are placed first and presented carefully and selectively, in order to honor traditional values, while creating an attractive legendary world. The film is set in the Dinh Dynasty, a period of important historical significance in the process of building and defending the nation. The crew tried to recreate the social atmosphere, customs, architecture and typical costumes of this period through a process of careful research of historical and archaeological documents and consultation with experts.
"Despite the fictional elements, we still want the audience to feel the spirit and authentic historical context. We incorporate into the film cultural characteristics such as rituals, folk beliefs, mascots, costumes, and architecture with strong Vietnamese imprints. These elements not only serve as a background for the story but also contribute to expressing the unique cultural identity of the nation. For example, the image of the heroic guardian spirits is based on legends and beliefs about guardian gods in Vietnamese folklore," the director added.
The film Huyen Tinh Da Trach produced by Hanoi Radio and Television Station is inspired by the legend of Chu Dong Tu - a saint in the Four Immortals of Vietnamese folk beliefs (along with Tan Vien Son Thanh, Phu Dong Thien Vuong and Mau Lieu Hanh). The film's content recreates the most beautiful love story of ancient Vietnamese people between Chu Dong Tu and Tien Dung.
According to the producer, the film also depicts the journey of exploration and creation of living space of residents in the Northern Delta, with the Da Trach trading port (now in Khoai Chau, Hung Yen) restored as the first symbol of trade of the ancient Vietnamese. This project also depicts the spirit of innovation, the conflicts between conservatism and reform, between freedom and prejudice - a profound cultural - political - social approach that is close to the contemporary audience.
According to director Ton Nguyen, the film is in the process of selecting actors in both the North and South, because with a film like Huyen Tinh Da Trach , the quality of acting and the character's temperament are "vital" factors.
"We work with historians, cultural experts, archaeologists, and technical consultants from the restoration of costumes, props, customs, to ancient settings such as Da Trach trading port, festivals, crafting industry, bronze casting, fishing, agriculture... All are aimed at recreating a vivid and convincing ancient Vietnamese world that is closest to the imagination of the majority of the public and the audience," said director Ton Nguyen.
MANY POTENTIAL AND CHALLENGES
Director Nguyen Phan Quang Binh said that choosing the historical genre was a challenge, because the number of Vietnamese films in this genre is still quite modest. However, this is an opportunity to explore and exploit the untapped potential of Vietnamese cinema. Because our country's history has countless fascinating stories, heroic characters and interesting mysteries, and Guardian Spirit - The Mystery of King Dinh's Tomb is just one of them.
Introducing the movie Guardian Spirit - The Mystery of King Dinh's Tomb, photo: nxx
"We are also well aware of the difficulties in terms of production, special effects and historical context restoration. However, with the determination of the entire crew, the support of historical and cultural experts, and especially the belief in the story we want to tell, I believe we can overcome these challenges and bring the audience a quality and emotional film," the director shared.
According to director Ton Nguyen of the film Huyen Tinh Da Trach , to make the film, the crew had to build an entire world, from people, living space to cultural spirit, and that world was too far from the present. The biggest difficulty was restoring the film set and choosing a setting that was both realistic and cinematic.
"We cannot rely entirely on available locations, but must carefully survey each land, riverbank, primeval forest to areas that can recreate ancient trading ports or ancient Vietnamese villages. Costumes and props are also a challenge. Because the Hung King period is a prehistoric period, with few direct documents, the film crew must combine archaeological and ethnographic materials and verified creative visualizations to be both historically convincing and aesthetically evocative," said director Ton Nguyen.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khoi-dong-dong-phim-huyen-su-viet-185250506222937305.htm
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