* This interview reveals some of the film's content.

The artist gained attention for his role as a soldier defending the Quang Tri citadel in director Dang Thai Huyen's work. In this interview, he discusses his memories of filming and his family life.

This is Phuong Nam's first war film. He discussed how he prepared for the role. Before the audition, he didn't read Chu Lai's novel "Mua do" for fear of being overwhelmed by the tragic details and affecting his mental state. At the casting, the director didn't give him a script. She only described the character briefly, then asked him to try out for the special forces soldier Sen and the new recruit Tan. He believes the director had him in mind for the role of Ta from the beginning, but wanted to see him in other roles to gain a wider perspective.

The cast trained for a month at a military camp in Cu Chi, TP HCM. During the day, they learned martial arts, how to use various weapons, and military drills. In the evenings, the group gathered to chat and read the script. That time brought the team closer. When filming began, their dialogue and coordination felt quite natural.

He envisioned Ta as a simple farmer whose speech and gestures differed completely from his city-bred comrades. He suggested a crew cut, with patches of shaved hair, to exude a rugged, tough look. He lost about 15 kg from his original weight of 78 kg to achieve the right physique. In the first month, losing 7 kg left him quite tired as his body adjusted to the change in diet and training. Over the next two months, he listened to his body and made suitable adjustments.

Actor Phuong Nam. Photo: Ha Thu

Actor Phuong Nam. Photo: Ha Thu

Ta's Thanh Hoa accent adds to his authenticity. Phuong Nam discussed how he regained his dialect. When the director, Dang Thai Huyen, learned he was from Thanh Hoa, she was delighted, as it matched her vision for Ta's background. However, having lived in Hanoi for over 10 years and working as an actor requiring standard Vietnamese, he had lost his regional accent. He returned to his hometown for a month, spending time talking with relatives, feeling like a child learning to speak again. There, he also farmed, living like a true farmer.

The film script was written in standard Vietnamese. His relatives in Thanh Hoa helped him adjust each line to the local dialect. He expressed pride in portraying a Thanh Hoa hero during wartime, bringing his homeland's voice to the screen.

Phuong Nam plays the husband in the music video "Noi dau giua hoa binh" (Pain amidst peace), the soundtrack for "Mua do". Video: Supplied

The most emotional scene for Phuong Nam was when Ta confronted an enemy soldier. As Ta prepared to shoot, he paused and wept, seeing a family photo fall from the enemy's pocket. He felt a painful conflict. While filming, he cried a lot, remembering his grandfather, who volunteered for the army and died in the southern battlefield in 1968 at 28. His father was only two years old then, and his uncle wasn't yet born. His grandfather didn't even know his grandmother was pregnant when he left. She raised their two sons alone. He reflected that if his grandfather had encountered such a compassionate person on the battlefield, perhaps he could have returned to his wife and witnessed his children grow up.

He believes he would have acted like Ta, sparing the enemy soldier, because regardless of what they fight for, they are all human beings with families waiting for them.

Phuong Nam in the film "Mua do". Photo: Supplied

Phuong Nam in the film "Mua do". Photo: Supplied

Participating in a war film presented physical and mental challenges. During rehearsals in late October of last year in Quang Tri, in a scene where Ta jumps to save a comrade, his co-star accidentally elbowed him in the eye. He was stunned for about 30 seconds, almost losing control of his body. He persevered and finished the scene. Afterwards, medics thoroughly checked his eye, thankfully finding no serious issues.

The film was shot during winter. His character had a river-crossing scene. While filming, they were accompanied by special forces divers. The divers commented on the difficulty of repeatedly crossing the river, despite its ease for them. Each time they emerged, they shivered from the cold. This experience helped him and his co-stars appreciate the hardships and determination of their forefathers.

He and Hoang Long (who plays Sen) had a dangerous scene involving explosives provided by a Thai expert and combat engineers. The Thai explosives were mild, for effect, but the engineers' explosives were powerful. They filmed a frontline combat sequence. The crew instructed them to maintain a safe distance and be mindful of the sheet metal roof 30 meters away, which could fall after the explosion. They had to act while calculating the safe distance. They were relieved when they saw the sheet metal fly away.

A week before filming began, his 3-year-old daughter broke her collarbone, leaving him distraught. His daughter didn't cry when he left, but her eyes teared up. He considers himself a family man and, before "Mua do", he limited his work to focus on his daughter, believing the first three years are crucial for a child. Once, he took a six-day leave without telling his family, surprising them with his sudden appearance. He saw his wife's surprised, teary-eyed reaction, feeling like a soldier returning home.

His wife studied television directing at the Hanoi University of Theatre and Cinema, two classes behind him. Since their marriage, she has focused on family and supporting his career. When he took the role and lost weight for it, she encouraged him and joined him in changing their diet. He considers her a supportive and understanding partner.

Actor Phuong Nam with his wife and daughter. Photo: Supplied

Actor Phuong Nam with his wife and daughter. Photo: Supplied

Now recognized by many who call him "Ta", Phuong Nam expressed happiness and gratitude for the audience's attention. He didn't take the role with the pressure of proving himself, but rather with a sense of duty to participate in a meaningful project. "Becoming a star" isn't his priority. To show appreciation to the audience, he maintains Ta's look for meet-and-greets.

He entered the profession by chance. After high school, he aimed for Bac Ninh University of Sports, but only qualified for the college program. He took a year to prepare for the university entrance exam again. Excelling in literature, he searched for universities offering it as a subject and found the Hanoi University of Theatre and Cinema. During two months of preparatory classes, his teacher considered him shy and unlikely to succeed. On the exam day, he scored 8.5 in literature, the highest in his class, and also achieved the highest score in acting.

Initially uncertain about his career path after graduation, he now views acting not as a job but as a way of life, enjoying experiencing diverse characters and embodying different lives. For practical needs, he takes on additional work to support his passion.

He recently finished a project titled "Tan hien" (Dedication), produced by the People's Police Cinema, about former intelligence officers, set to air early next year. In the future, he hopes to play the role of someone with mental illness, wanting to experience the portrayal of extreme emotions.

Phuong Nam, 32, graduated from the Hanoi University of Theatre and Cinema. He has played supporting roles in television series like "Nha minh la lam" (My strange family), "Tinh trang: Da ly hon" (Status: Divorced), and "Doi dieu tra so 7" (Investigation Team 7).

In 2021, he played Binh Tu, a tough character in the film "Cau Vang" (Golden Boy). In 2023, he played the lead role of Hoang in the film "Tieu doi hoa hong" (Rose Squad).

Ha Thu