“Hanoi’s Child” Film
“Hanoi’s Child” Fi
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“Hanoi’s Child” Film was produced by Vietnam Feature Film Studio in 1974, directed by People’s Artist Hải Ninh. The film has depicted the life in Hanoi in 1972 when US Army Force performed Operation Linebacker II campaign to bomb the North Vietnam. The film has reflected the grief suffered by the people in Hanoi for 12 days and nights of dropping B-52 bombs by the American Empire, especially in Kham Thien Street which suffered from the fiercest bombing.
In the film, People’s Artist Lan Huong, who was at 12 years old at that time, has made an strong impressions. “Hanoi’s Child” film focuses on the severity of the wall as well as the affection in the war. The film has told the story in which Ngoc Ha, as a child, was finding her missing parents and sister in the destruction of the city and helped by good-hearted soldiers and then, reunited with her sister.
Not focusing on describing the scenes of fierce bombing but the remnants after the battle and the pains and loss of the Hanoi families in Kham Thien Street, the film has become the classical film of Vietnamese cinema, reminiscent of painful but woeful and majestic time of Hanoi in the “12 days and nights” battle against the B-52 bombs of the American Empire.
These days, when recalling her role in the film, Lan Huong – the main character of the film still remembers the unforgettable memories of her first role. She still remembers exactly the scenes shot at bomb craters which had been not cleaned yet. The film was shot in June and July 1973, around a half year after “Dien Bien Phu in the air” battle, so many places had not been cleaned up. At that time, the remnants from the battle, and the grief and losses of the Hanoians due to B-52 bombing still carved in the memories of many people in the film crew.
“I am always grateful to be involved in “Hanoi’s Child” Film, because, not only it is the first film making me well-known and loved by everyone, but also it is characterized by the values and significance of the unforgettable historical moments of Hanoi”, said People’s Artist Lan Huong.
“Hanoi – 12 days and nights” film
“Hanoi – 12 days and nights” film
“Hanoi – 12 days and nights” film of People’s Artist – Director Bui Dinh Hac was completed in 2002, which is a true and lively film to praise the spirit of decisive fighting and determined victory of the military force and the people in the Capital. The film has featured Artists Chieu Xuan, Quoc Tuan, Xuan Tung, Mai Thu Huyen, Hoang Nhat Mai, together with the contributions of writer Kim Lan and musician Pho Duc Phuong.
The filmmaker not only described the feats of arms, but also made the best efforts to bring the artistic and humanitarian value to the film. In the fierce moments of the battle, the love of the Hanoians has been still shining brightly. In the film, the director has recreated a “peaceful” night in the setting of fierce war – Christmas Eve, December 1972. At Hanoi Cathedral, all people mourned and meditated for those who have died.
“Hanoi – 12 days and nights” film won the Silver Lotus prize at the 14th Vietnam Film Festival. The film also participated in 10 international film festivals including Cairo Film Festival (Egypt), Fukuoka Film Festival (Japan) and New Delli Film Festival (India) in 2003; Locarno Film Festival (Switzerland), Vesoul Film Festival (France), Pyongyang Film Festival (North Korea) in 2004; Fair Film Festival (Teheran-Iran) and Laguna Tenerife Film Festival (Spain) in 2005.
At Fukuoka Film Festival (Japan) in 2003, ” In each period, even though the war was fierce, the love of peace and compassion of the Vietnamese people still surpassed all”, commented Mr. Tadao Sato – President of the Film Festival cum Director of Japan Film Academy
“Hanoi – faith and hope” song
Musician Phan Nhan, author of “Hanoi – faith and hope” song
The famous song written by Musician Phan Nhan – “Hanoi faith and hope” has become one of the immortal and best songs about Hanoi. The song has expressed the pride, indomitable spirit and romantic soul of Hanoians. Interestingly, the song was composed by Musician Phan Nhan very fast on the days when Hanoi strived to fight bravely in the battle of “12 days and nights” against B-52 bombing by American Empire.
While he was still alive, Musician Phan Nhan repeatedly described the moment and feelings of composing “Hanoi faith and hope” song: “In December of that year (1972), I was in Hanoi. It was shiveringly cold. In the strident noise of bomb explosion, our Hanoians shouted for joy: “Burnt! Burnt!”. They ignored the danger to come out of the shelter and scream hoarsely when seeing the flying fortress (B52) of the enemy caught fire. At that time, the people of Hanoi and I had the sense of joy and optimism regarding the success of our air defense force and air force. As soon as the bombs’ noise stopped, the enemy’s aircrafts run away, the city returned to its peace, I sat at my musical instruments to play the first note: “Ơi, Đông Đô! Hùng thiêng dấu xưa còn in nơi đây. Ơi Thăng Long! Ngày nay chiến công rạng danh non sông. Hà Nội mến yêu của ta. Thủ đô mến yêu của ta là ngôi sao mai rực rỡ…(Tạm dịch: My East Metropolis! The vestiges of sacred kingdoms are still here. Oh Thang Long ! Victories in thousands of years shed luster on the Country. My loved Hanoi ! My loved capital! It is the effulgent morning star”). Those are the musical notes I first played out and the lyrics also came out quite easily … “, said he to the press in 2010.
“Hanoi faith and hope” with the intense and romantic melody combined with poetic lyrics was resounded immediately after the fierce battle against the destructive war of the American Empire. The song has represented the love of many Hanoians, no matter how difficult the circumstances are, they are still heroic, brave and indomitable.
“Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the air” song
It is the song written by musician Pham Tuyen on the night of December 27, 1972, in the bomb shelter of Radio the Voice of Vietnam, at the time of fierce fighting. On December 29, the song officially broadcasted in the program of Radio the Voice of Vietnam, touching all people of the country. The intense melody and lyrics of the song has invigorated the fighting spirit of the military force and the people of the Capital, and appeased the pain of the Hanoi families affected by the bombing raids.
Musician Pham Tuyen – author of “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the air” song
Musician Pham Tuyen – author of “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the air” song
A snippet of the song are as follows: “Bê năm hai tan xác cháy sáng bầu trời/ Hào khí Thăng Long ánh lên ngời ngợi… Hà Nội đây! Đế quốc Mỹ có nghe chăng câu trả lời của Hà Nội chúng ta? Đâu chỉ vì non nước riêng này. Phất ngọn cờ sao chính nghĩa (Tạm dịch: B52 airplanes are shattered in the sky/Spirit of Thang Long glitters…Hanoi here! Do the American Empire see our Hanoi’s responds? It is not only for our country. We unfurl the flag for justice)”.
Until now, when recalling the first broadcast of the Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the air” song in the program of Radio the Voice of Vietnam, many musicians living in the same time with musician Pham Tuyen still asserted that it was the unforgettable feelings. Many people cried while listening to this song.
Regarding musician Pham Tuyen, he composed the song simply as his natural feelings occurred suddenly when seeing Hanoi’s grief due to the destruction of American bombs as well as bravery and fighting spirit of the military force and people in Hanoi for 12 days and nights. The song has encouraged and supported the soldiers and people in the country, and affirmed that Vietnam’s army force and people would gain the victory.