Touching documentary about musician Van Cao

From right to left: Director Trinh Quang Tung, director Dang Linh and cameraman Duc Nguyen.

The film “The National Anthem Writer” is produced by the Central Documentary and Scientific Film Studio, directed by Dang Linh, with the hope of being released in time for the 80th anniversary of National Day, September 2.

Not only is the film a film that brings the audience the space and vitality of the famous songs that touch the hearts of the musician Van Cao, it also reveals to the audience many other aspects of his life, through the stories of his family members, writers, poets, and musicians of the next generation, such as musician Doan Nho, musician Doan Bong, poet Thanh Thao, poet Bang Viet, critic Nguyen Thi Minh Chau, singer Anh Tuyet, writer Thien Son, architect Nghiem Thanh and pianist Huong Huong - his two children.

Viewers' emotions for director Dang Linh.

Director Dang Linh shared that the selection of interviewees in the film was carefully planned and calculated, not randomly selected. The criteria for selection were that the person must first of all love and have a very objective view of musician Van Cao, and they themselves must have made positive contributions to art, culture and society and have a certain reputation. More importantly, it is sincerity, love, respect and recognition for musician Van Cao.

Director Dang Linh likened the process of making a film to going gold mining, sometimes meeting the characters, sometimes not. “But with this film, fortunately, most of the uncles, brothers, and sisters who participated in the film interviews were very sincere, and also told many stories that the film crew did not know before” – director Dang Linh recounted.

Poet Bang Viet and musician Doan Nho talk with director Dang Linh.

The life of musician Van Cao, from glorious to bitter, quiet, and even the peaceful years at the end of his life... is spread out in the film, although it is not enough, it also contributes to helping viewers understand more about this great and talented person.

Not only music , but the film also brings to the audience other aspects of musician Van Cao, the poetic person, the person who is concerned about family love, or the person who loves the Fatherland to the point of forgetting himself.

The film touched the emotions of the audience, when many people shed tears when witnessing the ups and downs in the life of artist - musician Van Cao, and the birth and existence of the song "Tien Quan Ca" - later chosen by President Ho Chi Minh as the National Anthem. When the majestic melodies of "Tien Quan Ca" resounded in the film, some audiences sang along.

Another song with a mixed fate, but later recognized and entered life, and was extremely loved by the people, is "First Spring" which was also "told" in the film.

The fate of the musician, the fate of the peak songs in his life were "told" interspersed, linked together by the language of documentary cinema, and especially told by the voice of a later generation director, many years removed from the musician's time. Director Dang Linh did not use commentary, but used the characters' stories to build the portrait and life of musician Van Cao, interspersed between his musical works and precious documentary footage.

Director Dang Linh said that the film was conceived and scripted about 3 and a half years ago. Production began about a year ago. Before that, the director and the film crew had to research, read, and learn about musician Van Cao for about 6 months, "just reading and listening to his music" - as director Dang Linh said.

Before being released, the film had to be edited a lot and luckily was licensed in time on the birthday of musician Van Cao, it was a coincidence and a fate that director Dang Linh deeply respects and appreciates.

Director, Meritorious Artist Trinh Quang Tung, Deputy General Director of the Central Documentary and Scientific Film Studio, commented that Dang Linh is one of the Studio's young directors with a very special "narrative voice" in the documentary film genre. He said that initially, the film originated from a documentary film project about musician Van Cao funded by the State, with a duration of 50 minutes. After completing the film, director Dang Linh felt sorry because there were still many good documents, many untold stories about musician Van Cao, so she asked the Studio's permission to make a feature film about his life.

Director Trinh Quang Tung also revealed that the most impressive scene in the film was the image of musician Van Cao playing the guitar with his fist, amidst the bombs and bullets exploding in Hanoi. This image not only expressed his mood, personality, and character, but also the context of Hanoi during wartime...

During the premiere, not only young and old audiences expressed their emotions and gratitude for the film, but also the characters present in the film such as musician Doan Bong, musician Doan Nho, poet Bang Viet, writer Thien Son... all expressed their surprise and high appreciation for the film. Poet Doan Bong briefly congratulated director Dang Linh: "You did a great job making this film."

Poet Bang Viet said that his initial vision of the film was very different, just a rounded portrait film, without any thorns. But after watching, he was very surprised by the different aspects of musician Van Cao shown in the film. And poet Bang Viet hopes that there will be more famous artists who will have films like this, so that the audience can see the real person, the inner thoughts, the inner thoughts of intellectuals and artists towards their artistic work as well as towards all social issues.

Writer Thien Son commented that this film is very modern, using direct narration without commentary, and the point of view in the film constantly changes through the characters. Each character interviewed is a person who both comments and tells the story and creates a rotation of points of view, showing different perspectives on musician Van Cao.

“This film not only talks about the musician Van Cao and poet Van Cao in terms of achievements but also talks about the secret aspects, the pains and silent aspirations, the suffering. But not only that, the film also reflects the whole era in which the artist lived, from the pre-uprising period, the period of resistance against the French to the period of resistance against the Americans. The value reflected in the film is very great” – writer Thien Son commented.

The film crew took photos with the audience and characters in the film.

Director Trinh Quang Tung said that the biggest wish of him and the filmmakers in the crew is that the film will reach a wide audience, and “The National Anthem Writer” is also the first documentary film of the Central Documentary and Scientific Film Studio that is planned to be shown in theaters. However, the film’s release also encountered some difficulties related to the distribution mechanism. “Only when the film reaches a wide audience will our wish be fulfilled, and that is also the motivation for us to continue with new documentary art projects” – director Trinh Quang Tung shared.

LINH KHANH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/xuc-dong-bo-phim-tai-lieu-ve-nhac-si-van-cao-post923516.html