Photo exhibition features Vietnamese revolutionary cinema

REVOLUTIONAY FILM - Movie star Trà Giang (second from right) performs in Cánh Đồng Hoang (The Wild Field), a film about a guerrilla couple and their newborn living in the Đồng Tháp Mười region during the American War. The film, directed by late People’s Artist Nguyễn Hồng Sến, was released in 1979. - Photo courtesy of the HCM City Cinematography Association

HCM CITY — More than 100 photos featuring Vietnamese revolutionary cinema are on displayed on Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian Street as part of the first Hồ Chí Minh City International Film Festival 2024 from April 6-13.

The exhibition, Vẻ Vang 77 Năm Điện Ảnh Cách Mạng Việt Nam (77 Years of Vietnamese Revolutionary Cinema), highlights the history and development of Việt Nam’s cinema industry, along with President Hồ Chí Minh, soldiers and artists.

Many photos capture southern film directors, producers, and artists of the Southern Cinematography and Photography Branch (SCPB) during the anti-French and American wars.

The Vietnamese motion picture industry was established officially in March 1953, but activities actually began in the SCPB, which opened in the Đồng Tháp Mười region (now located in Đồng Tháp, Tiền Giang and Long An provinces) in 1947.

SCPB artists, such as People’s Artist Khương Mễ and Nguyễn Thế Đoàn, worked hard to make lively documentaries and films on southern soldiers and people. Some of them died during the period.

Their works are still being used to train students at art schools at home and abroad.

The first work of SCPB was Chiến Trận Mộc Hóa (Mộc Hóa Battle), a documentary by the late cameraman and film director Mễ and his colleagues, People’s Artist Mai Lộc and Meritorious Artist Vũ Sơn.

The film was first released in December 1948, featuring the victories of Battalion 307's soldiers. It won the Silver Lotus award at the second Việt Nam Film Festival in 1973.

Director Mễ received the Licorne D’Or at the Amiens International Film Festival in France in 1997.

SOUTHERN ARTISTS - The late People’s Artist and actor Mai Lộc (left) and late talented cameraman and director Nguyễn Hồng Sến, both played a role in the development of the South’s film industry. - Photo courtesy of the HCM City Cinematography Association

Highlighted photos feature late People’s Artist and director Nguyễn Hồng Sến and movie star Trà Giang, who, along with their colleagues, pushed the Vietnamese revolutionary film to higher heights from 1962 to 1975.

Sến’s prize-winning films include Cánh Đồng Hoang (The Wild Field), winner of the Gold Medal at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1979.

The film focuses on a guerilla couple and their newborn son living in the Đồng Tháp Mười region of Long An Province.

Giang studied at the Việt Nam Cinematography School in Hà Nội.

She performed the lead roles in films such as Chị Tư Hậu (MrsTư Hậu) by late director Phạm Kỳ Nam in 1962 and Vĩ Tuyến 17 Ngày Và Đêm (17th Parallel, Days and Nights) by late director Hải Ninh in 1972. Both productions highlight southern women and their character.

Giang won the best actress prize at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1963 and 1973.

“Cultural authorities, and arts and cinema associations should work to maintain the quality of films produced during the revolution because they are part of the country’s history,” said Dương Cẩm Thuý, chairwoman of the HCM City Cinematography Association.

The exhibition runs until April 13.