Before the opening of the Vietnam-Sweden Children's Film Week on the morning of June 1st at the Vietnam Film Institute, the book exhibition area of Kim Dong Publishing House became the most crowded stop.
The children intently read each page of the storybook, pointing out the funny illustrations to each other and talking about the mischievous antics of their favorite characters.
The atmosphere of International Children's Day seems to begin with the simple joy of children standing amidst books and films, preparing to step into a world full of colorful imagination.
After years of accompanying childhood through the pages of books, Pippi has a new date with young Vietnamese readers today - on the big screen. The mischievous, strong, and imaginative little girl steps out of the pages of books to continue her journey of connecting with young readers.
Amidst the joyful laughter and chatter before the movie screening, many children couldn't hide their excitement at the prospect of meeting Pippi, Ronja, or the Lion Brothers, characters that have nurtured the imaginations of millions of readers worldwide.
Le Dang Khoa, a student in class 2A6 at Dang Tran Con Primary School, learned about the program through Kim Dong Publishing House. The boy, wearing a shirt with a superhero print, happily posed in front of the film week's promotional banner before quickly joining the crowd waiting to watch the movie.
Meanwhile, Tran Gia An, a fifth-grade student at Bach Mai Primary School, and her cousin Nguyen Ngoc Bich excitedly showed off the invitations they had just received. The two sisters said they regularly participate in Kim Dong Publishing House's reading events and didn't want to miss this special one.
In another corner, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim Binh patiently selected books from the display counter with her 8-year-old grandson, Nguyen Minh Tam. Despite living in the Tam Trinh area, quite far from the city center, she still brought her grandson early to further nurture his love of reading.
After some consideration, Tâm chose three books about Pippi Longstocking – the red-haired girl she was already familiar with. Today, that character stepped out of the pages to appear on the big screen, bringing a new experience to the young audience attending the film week.
Taking place from June 1st to 5th, the program, organized by the Vietnam Film Institute in collaboration with the Swedish Embassy, introduces three newly restored Swedish films: "Pippi Longstocking," "The Lion Brothers," and "Ronja: The Bandit's Daughter."
Notably, the film week also features a collection of 11 Vietnamese animated films spanning from the 1960s to the present day, including "The Fox Gets What He Deserves" - the first Vietnamese animated film, "The Toad and the Frog", "The Talking Magpie", "The Great Emperor", etc.
The film week also serves as an opportunity to honor author Astrid Lindgren, one of the world's most influential children's literature authors.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Johan Ndisi said that the stories of writer Astrid Lindgren continue to touch the hearts of many generations of readers because they contain universal values.
Speaking to reporters from the Hanoi Press and Broadcasting Agency , Ambassador Johan Ndisi said that Astrid Lindgren's stories always possess a special vitality, arousing curiosity, a spirit of adventure, and above all, hope, thus continuing to touch the hearts of readers in many parts of the world.
Ambassador Johan Ndisi shared that Astrid Lindgren's stories have stayed with him from childhood to fatherhood. As a child, he heard these stories from his mother. Years later, he himself became the storyteller for his own children, so that Pippi and her friends can continue to accompany a new generation of children.
The special ambassador turned to the children in the audience as she introduced the characters who would be appearing in the film week. “You will meet Pippi Longstocking, a girl especially beloved in Vietnam and perhaps the strongest girl in the world.”
Children will also follow the characters in "The Lion Brothers" - a story about courage and love, or meet Ronja, the brave girl who shows the power of friendship and the meaning of finding one's own path.
But what the Ambassador wanted to convey was that "films are like magical doors." "When watching films, you can travel to new worlds, meet new friends, and experience adventures that you may never have imagined before."
Behind those childhood stories lies a decades-long journey of cultural cooperation between Vietnam and Sweden.
Ambassador Johan Ndisi stated that the Swedish Film Institute still holds Vietnamese films that were preserved during the war to prevent damage and were later returned to Vietnam. This is a testament to the special bond between the two countries, especially in the field of cinema.
While Ambassador Johan Ndisi emphasized the significance of stories that transcend borders, Ms. Le Thi Ha, Director of the Vietnam Film Institute, viewed the film week from the perspective of preserving and disseminating cinematic heritage.
According to her, introducing these films is part of a mission to preserve and spread cinematic heritage. Astrid Lindgren's works represent the highest standards of children's cinema, combining artistic quality and emotional depth for all ages.
She remarked, "Seeing these stories come to life before Vietnamese children is a powerful reminder that cinematic heritage can connect cultures and generations."
That message was clearly evident in the movie theater on the morning of June 1st. As the lights dimmed, hundreds of children filled the seats, their eyes fixed on the big screen. Some watched while clutching newly purchased books, while others anxiously awaited the appearance of characters they had read about in their stories.
On the screen, animated films that have become childhood memories for many generations of Vietnamese people meet classic works from Sweden. Stories told from half a world away suddenly become relatable because they all speak of courage, friendship, kindness, and hope.
And there, amidst the laughter of children on June 1st, cinema once again proved that good stories always have the ability to transcend language, cultural, and time barriers to reach the hearts of viewers.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/noi-nhip-cau-tuoi-tho-viet-nam-thuy-dien-991363.html
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