The Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee has just organized a political activity program in April with the theme "Memories of Fire and Flowers - Proud to Continue", assigned to the Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper Youth Union to carry out, taking place at Galaxy Nguyen Du (Ho Chi Minh City).
Bringing character prototypes to the audience
At the program, delegates, union members and young people enjoyed the film "Tunnels: Sun in the Dark" and interacted with People's Armed Forces Hero To Van Duc and Mr. Hoang Don Nhat Tan - former Head of Propaganda Department of the City Youth Union, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union Traditional Club.
A scene from the movie “Tunnels: Sun in the Dark”. (Photo provided by the producer)
Hero To Van Duc once operated in Nhuan Duc commune, Cu Chi district; he was the prototype for the character Tu Dap in "Tunnels: Sun in the Dark", played by actor Quang Tuan. Meanwhile, Mr. Hoang Don Nhat Tan also fought in Nhuan Duc commune's tunnels in 1973. However, the two did not know each other at that time because at the time of the battle, each unit kept the location secret.
Hero of the People's Armed Forces To Van Duc (right cover) and Mr. Hoang Don Nhat Tan - former Head of the Propaganda Department of the City Youth Union, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union Traditional Club - interacted in the program "Memories of Fire and Flowers - Proud to Continue" (Photo: MINH KHUÊ)
During the exchange, Hero To Van Duc said he was very surprised by the film "Tunnels: Sun in the Dark". He recalled: "At first, when director Bui Thac Chuyen came to ask about the story of guerrillas fighting in Cu Chi tunnels, I thought it was to write an article. Ten years later, the director came to ask more and said he would make a film. Not only was I surprised because the film was about Cu Chi tunnels, I was also surprised that this work earned hundreds of billions of dong in box office revenue".
According to Mr. To Van Duc, director Bui Thac Chuyen's film only shows about 70% of the hardships and tragedy of the battle in Cu Chi tunnels. The film only depicts a small perspective, contained in one battle. In fact, for a long time, the guerrillas clung to this tunnel to fight and survive in very harsh conditions.
Mr. Hoang Don Nhat Tan also expressed his surprise that Vietnam was able to make a good war film like "Tunnel: Sun in the Dark". According to him, many parts of the film are good and attractive "like in an Oscar-winning work".
"I was touched by the intelligence of the Vietnamese people shown in the film. The scene where the character Tu Dap "pokes" the American plane to collect scrap is real in real life. I lived in the liberated zone so I know many people collect scrap to sell to copper pot and aluminum pot factories in Cho Lon, they bring ox carts to buy. The Cu Chi guerrillas turned high-end, super-class American weapons into scrap" - Mr. Hoang Don Nhat Tan was delighted.
Commenting further on "Tunnel: Sun in the Dark", Mr. To Van Duc said that in terms of mission, it is correct, but the film fictionalizes many details. The love story in the film is also completely fictional.
"Quang Tuan transformed into the character Tu Dap about 50% - 60%. This actor was very diligent, met me many times to talk, borrowed my equipment to come to the set to film scenes. If we only consider the battle in the film, this character is about 80% similar to the original, but in terms of the overall war, it is only about 10%. I fought from 1960 to 1970, and the film only recounts one battle, it is difficult to do better" - he assessed.
Worthy project
"Tunnel: Sun in the Dark" was released in theaters in early April 2025 and has been creating positive buzz, worthy of being a project to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025) of the Ho Chi Minh City Cinema Association.
Through the exchange programs after the film was officially released, the production crew brought many prototypes of characters in "Tunnel: Sun in the Dark" closer to the audience. From there, the messages about love for the country, the spirit of efforts to build and protect the Fatherland are increasingly rising. Many departments and organizations also organized special film screenings, coordinating exchanges with members of the film crew and the prototype of the character Tu Dap - Hero To Van Duc.
"Tunnels: Sun in the Dark" has attracted many young audiences, helping them understand more about war, about the hardships of previous generations to make our country unified, independent, and peaceful as it is today. Meeting and interacting with the original characters in the film brings many interesting and emotional things to young audiences.
Pham Thi Cam Giang, a student of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU-HCM, said she has watched "Tunnels: Sun in the Dark" 3 times. Watching every breath of the soldiers, every step, every grain of sand falling..., she felt like she was really in the tunnel, fighting with them.
"Although the film cannot fully describe the brutality of war, through this work, I believe that young people will understand more about war, about the value of peace and unity. I hope that Vietnamese cinema will have more and more quality historical works like this" - Cam Giang confided.
Meanwhile, audience member Le Hong An (District 8, Ho Chi Minh City) expressed: "I am moved and admire the resilient and courageous fighting spirit of the guerrillas of the past. Living in peacetime, we young people are more aware of the need to strive to work and study to contribute to the development of the country."
Screenwriter Duong Cam Thuy - Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Literature and Arts Associations, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Cinema Association - commented that the film "Tunnel: Sun in the Dark" has created a strong attraction for the public. According to her, the image of the 21-man guerrilla team led by Bay Theo at the Binh An Dong base has become a beautiful artistic image, captivating viewers, creating a mark for the film project celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/lan-toa-tinh-than-yeu-nuoc-qua-tac-pham-dien-anh-196250422200829702.htm
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