On 31/8, the film reached a new box office milestone after more than a week in theaters, including sneak previews. According to distributor Galaxy Studio, the film has attracted nearly 3 million viewers. On 30/8, the film earned over 4.2 billion VND, seven times more than Millionaire’s Ghost 2, the second-highest-grossing film.

The "Red Rain" film crew (front row) interacts with the Hanoi audience during a cine-tour on 28/8. Photo: Thanh Huyen

Red Rain has seen a continuous increase in screenings, currently reaching nearly 5,000 nationwide daily. The film is predicted to soon surpass The Funky Four, directed by Tran Thanh, which grossed 33.2 billion VND, becoming the highest-grossing Vietnamese film of the year.

Nguyen Khanh Duong, founder of Box Office Vietnam, an independent box office observer, believes that with current ticket sales, the film has the potential to surpass the achievements of Face Off: The Wish (directed by Ly Hai, 48.2 billion VND) and Mom (directed by Tran Thanh, 55.1 billion VND).

The film earns praise for its emotional storyline and detailed setting. The crew surveyed locations in more than 10 provinces and cities, including Dong Mo and Son Tay areas of Hanoi, to build the film set. They planned to dig a 500-meter-long river section but it wasn't feasible due to lack of rain in northern Vietnam at that time. Finally, the crew decided to build a 50-hectare film set on the banks of the Thach Han River, where the battle to defend the ancient citadel took place.

The citadel set was built entirely from scratch but was partially swept away by Typhoon Yagi. The film crew had to rebuild, delaying filming.

To portray the soldiers of Squad 1, the cast underwent rigorous training and weight loss to fit the image of soldiers during times of food scarcity. Actor Phuong Nam (as Captain Ta) lost 15 kg. Dinh Khang (as Tu) also lost 11 kg and learned to swim quickly to meet the role's demands.

Phuong Nam received love from the audience after his role as Captain Ta. Photo: Thanh Huyen

The script follows the 81 days and nights of fighting to defend the citadel. The central character, Cuong (played by Do Nhat Hoang), is a Conservatory student who is generous and skilled in martial arts. He gave up the opportunity to study abroad to join the army. During the days of fighting in Quang Tri, Cuong fought alongside his squad, including Ta, the captain, Binh, Tu, Hai, and Sen. They came from different hometowns, with diverse backgrounds and personalities, but shared the same goal of fighting for peace.

Towards the end, the story intensifies as Squad 1 dwindles after each battle. The director directly portrays the image of soldiers buried in the ground, their bodies torn apart. The river crossing scene in the film also moved the audience to tears. The film also offers a humanistic perspective on the South Vietnamese soldiers. They were also fathers, husbands, and sons, with families waiting for their return.

Mai Nhat