On the evening of 22/8, the film became the highest-grossing war film on its opening day in Vietnamese cinemas. It surpassed the opening day record of The Tunnel (directed by Bui Thac Chuyen), which earned over 30 billion VND when it was released in early April. Red Rain's revenue includes the first day of release and sneak previews on the evening of 21/8.
According to Box Office Vietnam, an independent box office observer, director Dang Thai Huyen's film currently has over 4,300 screenings nationwide. Red Rain is far ahead of other films currently showing, such as Demon Slayer: To the Swordsmith Village (a Japanese animated blockbuster with 1,500 screenings) and Shin: Crayon Shin-chan (over 500 screenings).
Artist Dang Thai Huyen expressed gratitude for the reception from audiences across the country and said she is open to all feedback and criticism of the film. At a press screening in Ho Chi Minh City on 20/8, the director said she had "given 200% effort and has no regrets." "We see this not just as a film, but also as an offering to pay tribute to the fallen heroes who sacrificed for the country," she said.
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From right to left: Red Rain actors Hua Vi Van, Trong Khang, and Do Nhat Hoang at the premiere in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Thanh Huyen |
The film has received positive reviews from experts. After viewing the film on 18/8 in Hanoi, Bui Thac Chuyen commented that Red Rain has many touching moments. He believes this film was more difficult to shoot than The Tunnel because of its larger scale. "To me, the crew succeeded in recreating a tragic period of the nation," the director said.
Produced by the People's Army Cinema, the film is set during the battle to defend the Quang Tri citadel from 28/6/1972 to 16/9/1972. It's based on the novel of the same name by writer Chu Lai, which won the A prize in the Vietnam Writers' Association novel competition in 2016 and the A prize from the Ministry of National Defense. While adapting the story, the film crew retained the heroic spirit of the original novel, but reduced the literary aspects and incorporated more actual combat elements.
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Actor Phuong Nam as soldier Ta in Red Rain. Photo: Provided by the film crew |
The main character is Dang Huy Cuong, a music conservatory student whose father is a veteran of the war against the French and whose older brother is a martyr. Despite being selected to study abroad, Cuong volunteers to go to the battlefield.
During his time as a soldier, he meets many people like Platoon Leader Ta, Sen (an older soldier from Saigon), Binh Vau (a former art student from Dong Ha), Hai Gu (a plumber from Ha Tay), and the youngest, Tu, a 16-year-old soldier. They represent various social classes, but share the common goal of fighting for peace. The image of "red rain" is a metaphor for the loss and sacrifice of a generation of young people who loved their homeland as their own flesh and blood.
In recent years, war films have gained more attention and appreciation from domestic audiences. Last February, Dao, Pho, and Piano by director Phi Tien Son created a ticket-buying frenzy, earning 21 billion VND and breaking even after three months of release. According to the Cinema Department, this was an "unprecedented" phenomenon for films commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which were only released in a few state-owned cinemas. Bui Thac Chuyen's The Tunnel, revolving around soldiers in the "steel land and copper citadel" of Cu Chi, premiered around 30/4 and earned 172 billion VND.
Mai Nhat
