Red Rain - More than just a movie

"Red Rain" is not a spontaneous fad, but stems from the inherent patriotism in every Vietnamese person.

Explaining the appeal of "Red Rain," experts generally agree that the film's great success is primarily due to its excellent, relatable script, significant investment, dedicated crew, and actors who all gave their best in their roles.

"The whispers of comrades"

Director Dang Thai Huyen expressed that the 7 million views of "Red Rain" as of the evening of September 7th was a number that overwhelmed her and the film crew. It felt like a dream that the artists involved in the film had realized with sincerity. The audience is the one who fulfilled that dream, taking "Red Rain" on a very long and memorable journey.

Colonel and writer Chu Lai, author of the script "Red Rain," said that he had been developing the script since 2010, when he received a commission from the younger brother of martyr Vu Huy Cuong, who died at Quang Tri Citadel . Although he didn't experience the fires at the citadel or directly participate in the fighting to defend it, to create "Red Rain," the writer drove to Quang Tri, stayed for a week, and spoke with witnesses, veterans, guerrillas, and local people.

Scene from the film "Red Rain". (Photo provided by the producer)

He even went to the ancient citadel at night to listen to the "whispers of his comrades" deep beneath the earth. He also accompanied the journey from North to South, talking to witnesses in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Dien Bien, etc., to gather the most authentic and moving information. From real-life material, he fictionalized typical characters. Ms. Hong – the female guerrilla rower – is the embodiment of many witnesses. As for the character Cuong, he was based on a real-life martyr, a student from a well-off family, who loved music , practiced Vovinam martial arts, and was full of ideals.

Commenting on "Red Rain," writer Chu Lai expressed that when adapted for the screen, the work took on a more robust and powerful form. He was deeply moved by the enthusiastic reception of "Red Rain," especially from young audiences. "I appreciate the artistic labor of the entire crew, who sacrificed days, even months, filming on set just to recreate a single word from literature. I believe that in terms of recreating the brutal atmosphere of bombs and bullets, cinema has done even better than literature," the screenwriter of "Red Rain" confided.

(Image provided by the manufacturer)

Having received much support from audiences with "The Tunnel - The Sun in the Darkness," director Bui Thac Chuyen commented that "Red Rain" is much more difficult than "The Tunnel - The Sun in the Darkness," both in scale and complexity. Based on his experience making war films, the director believes that making a war film set on the surface is extremely difficult, perhaps even the most difficult.

Dedicated cast

Rarely has a film received such elaborate investment from the pre-production stage, with its grand settings and numerous large-scale battle scenes, as "Red Rain". Colonel Nguyen Thu Dung, Director of the People's Army Film Studio, shared that from the very beginning of the project, the People's Army Film Studio received direct and consistent guidance from the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense , and the head of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army.

Director Dang Thai Huyen further emphasized the good fortune of the Army Film Studio in having the advantage of receiving support from colleagues and military branches who provided the best support to the film crew. The director said that she read the script for "Red Rain" in 2013. Ten years later, in 2023, she joined the film, and after a period of preparation and interviewing witnesses, "Red Rain" officially began filming in late 2024 or early 2025. The film's setting is summer, but it was filmed in winter, and therefore, the female director said that the crew dedicated 200% of their energy to this film.

(Image provided by the manufacturer)

Actress Ha Anh, playing nurse Hong, fainted while filming a scene in torrential rain on a day with temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, but upon waking up, she still asked the director if they needed to reshoot the scene. Not only Ha Anh, but the entire cast of Squad 1, including Phuong Nam (playing Ta), Do Nhat Hoang (Cuong), Lam Thanh Nha (Binh), Dinh Khang (Tu), Hoang Long (Sen), Nguyen Hung (Hai), Tran Gia Huy (Tan)... all gave their best for their roles.

The cast doesn't have any "box office stars," but most are well-suited to their roles, delivering performances that resonate with the audience. The actors' dedication and commitment led director Dang Thai Huyen to comment that they were no longer just actors, but characters who had stepped out of the film. "What moved me most was the incredibly difficult, arduous, and exhausting filmmaking process. Throughout the 81 days and nights, there were times I felt like giving up because I had never made a film that was so challenging, but there wasn't a single moment when anyone in the crew felt discouraged or had negative thoughts. Therefore, when 'Red Rain' was well-received, what mattered most to me was feeling that the hard work the team put in during those 81 days and nights had yielded such wonderful results," director Dang Thai Huyen revealed.

According to Mr. Dang Tran Cuong, Director of the Department of Cinema, the success of "Red Rain" shows that Vietnamese audiences, especially young people, are not indifferent to war films, as long as the work is of sufficient quality.

Those involved hope that the recent success of historical war films will establish a genre that can rival purely commercial, entertainment films and become an important part of Vietnamese cultural life.

Golden opportunity

One advantage of "Red Rain" is that it premiered at a golden time, when patriotic spirit was high and the entire nation was united in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd. "I appreciate seeing the younger generation come to the theater in a serious manner, not out of curiosity or following a trend. Some audience members have seen it 4-5 times," writer Chu Lai observed.

According to statistics from Box Office Vietnam, as of noon on September 8th, the film "Red Rain" has grossed over 564 billion VND, still holding the top spot on the Vietnamese box office list for the day. The film currently has 4,369 screenings per day, the most screenings of any film currently showing in the Vietnamese market. With its current upward trend, "Red Rain" could set an impressive record for the Vietnamese film market, with revenue predicted to reach 700 billion VND or more.

M. Phuong

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/mua-do-hon-ca-mot-bo-phim-post566111.html