People's Artist Tra Giang attended a painting event in Ho Chi Minh City after a long period of recuperation. At 84 years old, having recently recovered from a serious illness, she looked thinner, but her spirit and optimism were evident on her face.
People's Artist Tra Giang shared her thoughts with VietNamNet about the feelings and quiet moments in the life of an artist in their twilight years.
Tears well up when remembering 'old flames'.
Despite not acting in films for over 30 years, People's Artist Tra Giang has never left the screen because her heart and soul are always drawn to it.
Having left acting, Tra Giang still keeps the flame of passion for art burning. For many years, she has regularly participated in film awards ceremonies and film festivals. She sees this as an opportunity to connect with colleagues and younger generations, and also "to ease her longing for the profession."
She often advised aspiring actors to put themselves in the character's shoes to explore and discover . "In filmmaking, authenticity is the number one condition. That condition is needed in every era," the artist said.
According to Tra Giang, each era of filmmaking has its own challenges. Her time was difficult in every respect, while now, with greater resources, there are higher demands for quality and aesthetics in filmmaking. She highly values the two most progressive roles in recent times: cinematography and acting.
Having retired in 1989, the actress always cherishes the memories of her golden age. Occasionally, Tra Giang reminisces about her time working in films, recalling the hardships but also the happiness and glory of those years.
In the hazy memories of the 84-year-old actress, Tra Giang often thinks about her former colleagues who worked alongside her on film sets, such as People's Artist Lam Toi, People's Artist The Anh, and director Hai Ninh… They are now gone, leaving an endless void in Tra Giang's heart. Images of the past sometimes bring tears to her eyes.
She secretly thanked God that after leaving film, she was given the opportunity to pursue painting. It came at a time when she felt lost and uncertain due to career changes and life events.
From her initial casual pursuits, she now has hundreds of paintings in various genres, inspired by women, films, and the places she has traveled. Tra Giang doesn't dare call herself a painter, only considering herself a "drawing actress." Nevertheless, she has achieved many proud accomplishments to date, including 10 group exhibitions and 5 solo exhibitions.
Tra Giang loves to draw; even in her dreams, she still sees colors and images, just like when she was acting in films.
If she previously devoted her love, passion, and effort to filmmaking, she now finds joy and passion in painting.
Having overcome a serious illness, I am grateful to still be alive.
People's Artist Tra Giang's greatest wish right now is good health. She is proud that, compared to many people her age, she is still quite mentally sharp and mobile.
The artist recently went through a life-threatening illness. In early 2024, she was diagnosed with a large gallstone in her bile duct. Because it couldn't be removed by endoscopy, Tra Giang was advised to rest and take medication. However, her condition unexpectedly worsened, requiring her to be hospitalized in critical condition.
She was hospitalized for a month in intensive care. Her daughter, pianist Bich Tra, flew back to Vietnam to be by her mother's side.
"Luckily, I received dedicated care from the doctors at Thong Nhat Hospital. Now I'm doing better, feeling like I've returned from the brink of death and grateful to still be alive," Tra Giang recounted. Currently, she visits the hospital monthly for check-ups and medication.
Due to declining health, Tra Giang spends more time resting and painting less. The artist believes that one's mental state, whether good or bad, depends on oneself, and she doesn't want to fall into a state of lethargy or sluggishness.
People's Artist Tra Giang currently lives in an apartment near the city center. The area around her is spacious and has the Saigon River flowing nearby.
Every morning, she wakes up early to exercise, enjoying the sunrise and the freshness of the plants, which helps to relax her mind and inspire her painting.
Since her husband passed away, Tra Giang has lived alone, but after a health setback, she asked her nephew to live with her so they could be close by her side day and night.
The artist has a group of friends who get together on weekends for meals and fun. They cherish her and take care of her like an older sister in the family. Each person often cooks a few dishes and puts them in containers, which she takes home to store in the refrigerator and reheats when she wants to eat. Due to her age, Tra Giang only eats simple dishes such as grilled fish, boiled vegetables, steamed potatoes and corn… and minimizes her intake of fried and greasy foods.
Simple happiness at the end of life.
Last year, the country celebrated major events such as A50 and A80. For someone like Tra Giang, who lived through the bombs and bullets of war until peace was restored, those moments left a deep emotional impact on her.
During parades and marches, Tra Giang followed them all on social media and television. She jokingly said she only wished she could be a few decades younger so she could join the crowds waving flags and flowers, enjoying the festive atmosphere.
"Only those who have witnessed war truly understand the value of peace. I'm looking forward to the A100 anniversary celebration, but I don't know if I'll live to see it. If I do, I'll surely be the happiest old woman," Tra Giang reflected.
Is People's Artist Tra Giang a truly fortunate woman, having had such a brilliant life and career? Tra Giang considers herself lucky. From a young age, she was cared for and guided towards the arts by her parents. Upon becoming a professional actress, she received beautiful and sincere affection from generations of the public.
Whenever she goes out, Tra Giang habitually wears sunglasses and a face mask to cover her face completely. Some people still recognize her, run up to hug her, and ask to take a few commemorative photos. For Tra Giang, that is a great source of happiness, and also something she wants to carry with her until the end of her life.
Summarizing her life of over 80 years, Tra Giang uses two words: "contentment." Because she views life and people through an optimistic lens, the artist feels that her life is now peaceful and happy.
Having overcome a serious illness, what Tra Giang values most right now is her health. She thinks positively, finding joy in every moment of everyday life. The artist doesn't worry about what will happen when she passes away. For her, life is a countdown, so she focuses entirely on today, not thinking about the future.
"Each person has their own destiny, which they cannot choose. We should remain positive and create joy and happiness from simple things," the artist reflected.
People's Artist Tra Giang in the film 'The 17th Parallel Day and Night'
Photos and videos: HK, provided by the interviewee.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nsnd-tra-giang-vuot-cua-tu-2497564.html
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