From “Red Rain” to “Quang Tri Memories”:

The book " Quang Tri Memories" by author Nguyen Thuy Kha. Photo: M.Chi

The book “Quang Tri Memories” published by the Truth National Political Publishing House, authentically recreates the 81 days and nights in the Citadel in 1972, a time considered the “fiery summer” in the history of the nation’s war against the US.

If in the film, the image of soldiers lying under the layers of falling rocks and soil makes viewers cry, then in the book, each word is enough to make readers choke up: "We fought in the rain of bombs and bullets, sometimes all day we couldn't raise our heads, we could only hold our guns and shoot". Those tragic and fierce film scenes, when combined with the memories filled with the harsh reality of the battlefield, created a strong resonance, evoking sympathy and deep emotions in the hearts of the public.

The brutality of war is clearly shown through each page of the book. Everyday details such as meals with only a piece of bread passed from hand to hand, or water shared in a bunker help readers appreciate the value of peace .

Both the film and the book emphasize that, even in the most dire circumstances, humanity still shines through, and that war, though painful and full of loss, is also the place where the most beautiful human qualities are revealed.

Scene from the movie "Red Rain". Photo: DPCC

Many viewers, when watching “Red Rain”, exclaimed that they had never imagined war to be so real and painful. That feeling was further amplified when reading the narrative lines of the Liberation soldiers in “Quang Tri Memories”: “Blood has soaked every inch of land, but every inch of land has become a symbol of the indomitable fighting spirit”.

The film is a haunting image, the book is a haunting memory. Two different ways, but both convey the same message: Peace is never a given, but must be paid for in blood.

What is special about “Quang Tri Memories” is the comparison between the two sides of the battle line. If the audience in the theater shuddered when witnessing the enemy fall in despair, the book recorded that state of mind with gentle but profound words: “They have no dreams, no youthful ambitions, they fight for their own survival, seeing their sacrifice as meaningless”. The audience’s emotions therefore do not stop at pity, gratitude for the fallen Liberation soldiers, but also somewhat pity for the fate of the soldiers on the other side. War, in the end, is a loss for everyone.

The audience was moved when seeing the image of the Thach Han River dyed red in “Red Rain”, and in “Quang Tri Memories”, the river appeared as a witness: “The Thach Han River has carried the bodies of many comrades, as a silent witness of the war”. That similarity makes the emotions from the cinema spread to the book pages and vice versa, so that each reader and viewer once again contemplates the sacred and priceless value of independence and freedom.

When the film ended, the audience was not only moved but also wondered: What will we do to be worthy of that sacrifice? The answer is available in “Quang Tri Memories”: “The blood and bones we leave here are not for anyone to pity, but for the country to rise up strongly.”

The book “Quang Tri Memories” is a living testimony of history, where each word is imbued with blood and the desire for freedom. Through the book, readers will better understand the tragic historical period of the nation, deeply feel the value of peace today, and at the same time, uphold the responsibility to preserve and build a developed country.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/tu-mua-do-den-hoi-uc-quang-tri-khuc-ca-bi-trang-ve-chien-tranh-va-gia-tri-cua-hoa-binh-714475.html