Documentary "On the New Front" - the aspirational journey of veterans

The war is long gone, but the spirit of the soldiers still shines brightly in the beauty of everyday life. The documentary "On the New Front" produced by the People's Army Cinema brings a simple yet touching story about the lives of veterans who continue to contribute today.

Image from the documentary "On the New Front".

For soldiers, the journey of dedication to the Fatherland and the People never stops. Returning from the battlefield, they carry with them wounds and memories of the battlefield deeply engraved on their bodies along with unforgettable memories. But more importantly, they also carry with them a will to rise up, a never-ending desire, which in turn urges them to enter a "new front" in everyday life: fighting with injuries and personal circumstances to build a new life.

The documentary "On the New Front" by the People's Army Cinema recreates the special journeys of veterans after leaving the battlefield. Lieutenant Colonel Tran Thi Thu Huong, the film's screenwriter, shared: "The characters in the film used to fight against the flames of war, now they return to normal life and face a new "front", which is to overcome injuries and economic difficulties to contribute to the whole people's victory on the economic front. With their strong will and the spirit of "disabled but not useless", the veterans are not only good at doing business but also become a support, spreading the spirit of sharing, helping their comrades and people to rise up together. It is these motivations that help us make this film."

Veteran Vu Xuan Tuy is attached to the sedge weaving profession in his hometown Nghia Hung.

The film leads the audience through each fate, when the past and present still go together, when the soldiers' will is once again tested in peace . In an emotional scene, at the Quang Minh Museum in Hai Phong, three veterans Tran Hong Quang, Vu Xuan Tuy and Phan Trong Dien quietly look at artifacts that have faded with time: black and white photos, a canteen, a faded shirt...

They had fought in different battlefields, with different injuries, but today, in a space filled with memories, they found each other sharing and empathy. Meeting each other again not only brought back memories, but more importantly, encouraged each other to move forward and come up with ways to make a living. As the commentary in the film mentioned: "The spirit of the soldiers is still intact, only now, they are entering a new 'front' of the war to bring prosperity to their families, comrades and the community."

Veterans have had meetings to firmly step on the "new front".

Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Dieu Hoa, the film director, shared: "The film recreates the heroic youth of the soldiers. At only 17 years old, Tran Hong Quang twice applied to join the army, determined to go to the battlefield even though he was not old enough. He and his comrades crossed Truong Son, fought in fierce battles and once returned from the brink of death. As for Phan Trong Dien, a young man from Nam Dinh , in the 1980s, he carried a backpack and marched to Upper Laos, living between the boundary of life and death."

"Comrade Vu Xuan Tuy, a soldier from the Central Highlands, faced fierce battles that lasted 40 days and nights, suffered many injuries but never gave up. They returned at a very young age, but their bodies were permanently disabled," the director shared.

The veterans' enthusiastic working spirit has "passed on the fire" to the younger generation.

"Returning from the battlefield, my comrades had amputated legs, amputated arms, some were blind, some had difficulty breathing due to the after-effects of dioxin. Daily life became another battlefield - the battlefield of earning a living..." the veteran's words made the film crew fall silent in emotional moments.

The special feature of the documentary "On the New Front" compared to other films with the same theme of soldiers is that besides the stories of memories, the film focuses on depicting the journey of economic development, career building, and contribution to the community of veterans after the country's reunification.

Veteran Tran Hong Quang founded the Quang Minh Disabled Veterans Enterprise, built the Truong Son Cement Factory, and created jobs for hundreds of disabled veterans and children of policy families. He once said: "I live to do the work for my fallen comrades."

Or like veteran Phan Trong Dien who returned to his hometown in Xuan Truong commune, Ninh Binh province, and stuck with the bronze casting profession. Instead of keeping the profession for himself, he opened a furnace, taught the profession for free, cast statues of gratitude, and restored martyrs' cemeteries. In the midst of the red fire, he still kept in his heart the oath of the past: "If I return alive, I will live on behalf of my fallen comrades."

The film crew works on a scene.

For veteran Vu Xuan Tuy, he chose to make sedge in his hometown of Quy Nhat commune, Ninh Binh province, and established Anh Tuy Company, turning straw and sedge into a source of livelihood for hundreds of war invalids, disabled people, and poor women. For him, doing business is not to enrich himself, but to maintain a profession, so that the disadvantaged can live with their own hands.

Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Dieu Hoa, the film director, emotionally shared that the last frame stopped at the Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery. In that sacred space, veterans silently bowed, burning incense to pay tribute to their comrades. Next to them, students with clear eyes, trembling hands lifted bouquets of flowers, gently placing them on each grave of the heroic martyrs.

The silver hairs next to the young generation, the calloused hands, still bearing the traces of war, holding the hands of the children bring intense emotions about continuity, a message from the previous generation to today's generation about the flame of memory and responsibility to the Fatherland that will forever shine in the hearts of Vietnamese people.

On the bamboo-shaded village roads, beside the moss-covered tiled roofs, or amidst the glowing fire in the foundry, the humming sound of machines in the workshop… somewhere the figures of old soldiers still appear. They no longer hold guns, but every action, every step, every concern… is continuing the oath of the past.

The documentary "On the New Front" opens up a current perspective, when national strength is built from people who quietly sow good deeds in everyday life. In the flow of Vietnamese cinema, there have been many films that exploit the theme of soldiers returning from war. Each work has its own perspective and "On the New Front" promotes the strength of a tight, attractive narrative... typical of People's Army Cinema. In addition, the work has an expansion of cinematic language, combining aesthetic elements, music and the rhythm of life to bring the audience closer to real emotions.

Through the film, we feel more deeply the strength of the nation, which is forged from glorious victories on the battlefield and the spirit of solidarity, sharing and mutual support in daily life. That is also the noble quality of Uncle Ho's soldiers in peacetime, always resilient, brave and full of love. Their desire to live and contribute has never been exhausted. They may return with many injuries but their hearts are still full of faith. In the midst of everyday life, they build for themselves "new trenches" through work, and the unfading affection between comrades and fellow countrymen.

THUY PHUONG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/phim-tai-lieu-tren-mat-tran-moi-hanh-trinh-day-khat-vong-cua-cac-cuu-chien-binh-post917537.html