A film about President Ho Chi Minh's childhood is about to be released in theaters.

The film "Moonlight of Childhood" is a work produced by Liberation Film Joint Stock Company to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2024); the 134th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2024); and the 113th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's departure to seek a path to national salvation (June 5, 1911 - June 5, 2024).

Movie poster for "The Moon of Childhood".

The film's script won third prize in the 2020 feature film scriptwriting competition organized by the Vietnam Film Department. The project is set between 1895 and 1901, when President Ho Chi Minh (childhood name Nguyen Sinh Cung) and his parents, Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac and Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan, and his older brother, Nguyen Sinh Khiem, first visited Hue .

The official poster features images of four members of President Ho Chi Minh's family at the time, each face reflecting a different emotion. In the distance is the Imperial City of Hue with its Ngo Mon Gate and magnificent palaces. The contrasting image shows the four members of President Ho Chi Minh's family struggling to cross sun-scorched sand dunes to reach this opulent land, unaware of what awaits them on their journey.

A picture of President Ho Chi Minh's parents, Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan and Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac.

During his more than five years living in the imperial city of Hue, Nguyen Sinh Cung witnessed many new things. Compared to his hometown of Nghe An, Hue had many large and beautiful houses and majestic palaces. However, Hue also clearly revealed class conflicts regarding power and welfare.

The French rulers were arrogant, domineering, and cruel. The dignified officials of the Southern Dynasty, clad in brocade robes, velvet shoes, and winged hats, were nevertheless timid and submissive before the king and even the French. The rest were mostly farmers, porters, rickshaw pullers, and vagrants… enduring a life of suffering and humiliation under oppression and exploitation.

Director Ho Ngoc Xum said the film came to him by chance. At that time, he was working on another television series when he received an invitation from the production company. “I didn’t intend to do it then. But after reading the script, there were a few details that piqued my interest. Before agreeing, I decided to take a trip to Hue and Nghe An to understand the situation firsthand,” the director recounted.

The director revealed that what he was most proud of about this project was portraying President Ho Chi Minh's childhood as an innocent, ordinary child with no shortage of mischievous antics like any other child. The film also does not aim to "deify" his life.

But it was these everyday situations, based on observation skills, intelligence, filial piety, etc., that nurtured the seeds that would shape the character and personality of a future leader. It can be said that the period spent in Hue, with its many family events and the vicissitudes of history and society, helped young Nguyen Sinh Cung mature in his thinking and understanding, laying the foundation for his sound decisions in the future.

The journey of President Ho Chi Minh's family migrating to Hue is recreated on the big screen.

In addition to adhering closely to history with the advice of experts, the film will include some fictional details, but all are based on oral tradition so that viewers will find it convincing.

The film features a cast including: Tran Viet Bac, Ngo Le Quyen, Pham Huu Dai, Luu Van An, Bach Cong Khanh, Nguyen Ngoc Kim Ngan, Ali Quang Khai, Bui Nguyen Hoang Phuc, Nguyen Ho Nhat Minh, Tran Duc Tuan Hung... The film is scheduled to be released on May 17th.

According to Vietnamnet

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