"Red Rain" – reviving the memories of the 81 days and nights of defending the ancient citadel of Quang Tri on screen.

Scene from the film "Red Rain". Photo: Producer.

On the afternoon of July 23rd, a media event for the film project "Red Rain" took place in Hanoi .

"Red Rain" is a feature film about the revolutionary war, with a screenplay by writer Chu Lai, inspired by and fictionalized from the 81 days and nights of heroic and tenacious fighting to defend Quang Tri Citadel in 1972.

At the meeting, veteran Nguyen Van Hoi, head of the K3 Tam Dao Battalion Liaison Committee, choked up with tears while watching a film clip. He spoke tearfully about his longing for his comrades, his emotions overwhelming him as he saw the footage recreating the fierce battle in Quang Tri.

"These soldiers were only 18 or 20 years old; most of them had never been in love. When they died, they cried out for their mothers and sisters in agony. I was lucky to survive, but so many of my comrades lie buried in that land," Mr. Nguyen Van Hoi shared.

Director and Meritorious Artist Dang Thai Huyen also mentioned the scene where the soldiers call out, "Mother!" "When I read the script for 'Red Rain' written by author Chu Lai, I was particularly impressed with the segment where the soldiers who died on the Thach Han River called out, 'Mother!' because they were so young. I cried a lot when I read that scene," the director confided.

During filming in Quang Tri, the crew approached the project not just as a film, but as a heartfelt tribute to the heroes who fell for national independence.

While filming in Quang Tri, the weather was harsh, with freezing cold nights, scorching sun during the day, and incessant rain, but the entire crew and coordinating military agencies remained undeterred and determined to complete the film.

Veteran Nguyen Van Hoi (standing) is visibly moved as he recalls his comrades from the old battlefield. Photo: Huyen Chi

At the event, Colonel Dao Van Phe - Deputy Head of the Liaison Committee of the K3 Tam Dao Battalion, and Major Tran Trong Can, Hero of the People's Armed Forces, also shared their memories of the ancient citadel of Quang Tri, which witnessed the sacrifice of tens of thousands of soldiers in their twenties.

Based on the true stories of historical witnesses, writer Chu Lai completed the script for "Red Rain" and collaborated with the People's Army Film Studio to realize this project.

Writer Chu Lai revealed that he wrote the script for "Red Rain" 10 years ago, driven by a strong desire to create a feature film about the ancient citadel of Quang Tri. Subsequently, a large team worked tirelessly for months to complete the project, aiming for its release in time for the 80th anniversary of National Day on September 2nd.

However, writer Chu Lai believes that: "Films, novels, or epic poems cannot fully capture the spirit of Quang Tri, and this film is only a snapshot of the history that the nation has experienced."

The cast of the film "Red Rain" filmed in Quang Tri for 81 days and nights. Photo: Huyen Chi

Producer Kieu Thanh Thuy was also moved, saying, “We poured all our efforts into recreating the fierce yet emotionally charged atmosphere of the battlefield. This film demands a very high level of commitment from the entire crew, not only in terms of technical skills, but also in terms of emotion and responsibility to history.”

The cast includes both veteran artists and young talents such as People's Artist Tran Luc, Meritorious Artist Trong Hai, actors Dinh Thuy Ha, Hua Vi Van, Do Nhat Hoang, Ha Anh, Steven Nguyen, Phuong Nam, Lam Thanh Nha, Dinh Khang, Hoang Long, Nguyen Hung, Tran Gia Huy, Luong Gia Huy, Minh Thuan...

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/mua-do-hoi-sinh-ky-uc-81-ngay-dem-bao-ve-thanh-co-quang-tri-tren-man-anh-3368209.html