On the evening of 24/8, director Dang Thai Huyen's film reached the milestone. In April, The Tunnel, a film about soldiers in Cu Chi directed by Bui Thac Chuyen, took nearly a week to reach the same figure.
After three days, the film reached one million viewers, according to Box Office Vietnam, an independent box office observer. On 24/8 alone, the film earned over 32 billion VND, six times more than the Japanese animated film Demon Slayer, which ranked second. Positive word-of-mouth helped Red Rain achieve over 4,600 screenings daily nationwide.
The popularity of Red Rain has made the film's title a trending keyword across social media platforms. On TikTok, some viewers posted clips filmed inside theaters, revealing key scenes and the fates of main characters, attracting millions of views.
Director Dang Thai Huyen expressed happiness at the film's reception but also sadness over the issue of piracy. "I'm heartbroken beyond words because it represents years of work by the entire crew, along with 81 days and nights of sweat on set. I hope everyone respects the film crew so we have the motivation for future projects," she said.
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Actor Phuong Nam impresses with his role as Ta - a straightforward and honest soldier. Photo: Thanh Huyen |
Written by author Chu Lai, the film is set in 1972 when the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam had completely taken Quang Tri province, which lay on the temporary dividing line between North and South Vietnam. Having lost a strategic base and facing the potential loss of Thua Thien province, the US provided additional equipment to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam to retake Quang Tri, especially the ancient citadel, aiming to force a favorable treaty.
The script follows the 81-day battle to defend the citadel. The central character, Cuong (played by Do Nhat Hoang), is a Conservatory student, generous and skilled in martial arts. He abandons a study abroad opportunity to enlist. During the fighting in Quang Tri, Cuong fights alongside his squad, including Ta (the squad leader), Binh, Tu, Hai, and Sen. They come from different regions, with diverse backgrounds and personalities, but share the same goal of fighting for peace.
Towards the end, the story intensifies, and Squad 1's numbers dwindle after each battle. The director directly portrays soldiers buried in the earth, their bodies fragmented. The river crossing scene also moved many viewers to tears. The film also offers a humane perspective on the soldiers of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, portraying them as fathers, husbands, and sons with families waiting for their return.
The film is commendable for its meticulously detailed 50-hectare set. However, it has some shortcomings, such as the underdeveloped love triangle between Cuong, Quang, and Hong, and some overly propagandistic dialogue.
Red Rain is the 10th Vietnamese film to surpass 100 billion VND. Previously, the Vietnamese cinema scene has seen a surge in films achieving this level of box office success, including: The Guardian Squad (322 billion VND), Detective Kien: The Headless Case (249 billion VND), The Ancestral Home (243 billion VND), Flip Face 8: Sunny Embrace (232 billion VND), The Billion Dollar Kiss (212 billion VND), The Tunnel: The Sun in the Shadow (173 billion VND), Abandoned Mother (169 billion VND), and Incantation (150 billion VND).
Mai Nhat
