Director Bui Thac Chuyen's film, starring Thai Hoa, has released a video revealing the setting of the Cu Chi tunnels and an enemy offensive.
First-look film "Underground Tunnels: The Sun in the Darkness" will be released domestically on April 30, 2025 – the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification. Video: Galaxy
The producers released the first-look video on the evening of April 29th, opening with scenes of enemy forces sweeping through South Vietnam. Following the sound of bombs exploding, the scene shifts to an underground base of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam.
The video includes a scene where a character says, "The Americans are saying, 'If Cu Chi remains, Saigon will be lost.'" The trailer ends with a scene of the bunker shaking from the sound of bombs, seemingly on the verge of collapse.
This project, commemorating the 50th anniversary of national reunification, is a war film made with privately funded resources. Besides Thai Hoa, the cast includes Quang Tuan, Ho Thu Anh, Cao Minh, Diem Hang Lamoon, Hoang Minh Triet, and Khanh Ly.
Director Bui Thac Chuyen said it took 10 years to prepare the project, focusing on recreating the patriotic spirit of the people of Southern Vietnam. Filming lasted over two months, with many scenes shot in Cu Chi. "It's hard to imagine how resilient soldiers and militiamen used rudimentary tools to build such a dense and complex defense system underground," Bui Thac Chuyen said.
Movie poster for "The Underground Tunnel". Photo: Galaxy
The film also marks the return of Thai Hoa after a hugely successful year. Last year, he won two Best Actor awards at the Golden Kite Awards: Best in Film ( The Little Girl Who Wants a Husband ) and Best in Television ( Mother of Straw ). He also won Best Actor at the Vietnam Film Festival 2023. The actor said he wanted to take on a "challenging" role with many experiences while he is still in his prime.
"There's nothing more satisfying than successfully completing even a small segment. I hope the audience won't remember Thai Hoa by name; just remembering the role I played would be enough to make me happy," he said.
Director and screenwriter Bui Thac Chuyen, 56 years old, was born in Hanoi . In 1995, he studied acting at the Hanoi University of Theatre and Film, becoming an artist of the Vietnam National Drama Theatre. In 1997, he studied directing, gaining attention with "Night Ride " - the first Vietnamese film to win an award in the Cinefondation Short Film category at the Cannes International Film Festival. In 2005, his film "Living in Fear " won numerous awards domestically and internationally. In 2022, "Brilliant Ashes " - a film adaptation of a story by Nguyen Ngoc Tu - won many awards domestically and internationally, including the Golden Lotus at the 2023 Vietnam Film Festival.
Alongside filmmaking, Bui Thac Chuyen also taught film. In 2002, the director founded the Center for Supporting and Developing Film Talents (TPD) of the Vietnam Film Association.
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