War movie made by Vietnam's military a box office blockbuster
Film grosses more than twice Hollywood hits during period of 'peak patriotism'
HANOI -- A war movie made by Vietnam's military has become the all-time box office leader in a country where the top movies are usually romances or comedies.
"Mua Do" ("Red Rain") depicts a bloody battle between Communist forces and the American-backed South Vietnamese army during the Vietnam War. The battle, fought in the country's central province of Quang Tri, earned the grim nickname "the meat grinder" because of the many people who died there. According to reports in the Vietnamese media, more than 10,000 soldiers were killed on both sides.
Since its official release on Aug. 22, the film has grossed 613 billion dong ($23 million) as of Friday, according to data by Box Office Vietnam. "Red Rain" is now the top grossing film in Vietnam's history, more than doubling the take of Hollywood hits such as "Avengers: Endgame," the most popular foreign movie in Vietnam, which grossed 280 billion dong.
As of the weekend of Sept. 7, cinema theaters were packed with moviegoers eager to see the film. Many theaters are showing it every half hour or so on multiple screens. And many people have seen it twice.
"I cried my eyes out the whole night and the following weekend after watching the movie. I am extremely grateful to the generations of fathers and grandfathers who sacrificed their youth and blood for the nation's independence and peace. When I look up at the sky now, I truly appreciate how beautiful it is. Peace is more precious than ever," said 27-year-old moviegoer Dam Van Anh, who has seen the movie twice.
"Vietnamese movies have always revolved around issues in daily life. And in recent years, they have developed more into horror movies, but they have not really attracted and received high ratings from the majority of the audience," Van Anh said.
The movie is adapted from a novel of the same name written by Chu Lai. It depicts the Second Battle of Quang Tri, which took place in 1972 and was eventually won by the U.S.- backed South side.
According to Vietnam's Communist Party-ruled government, during the 81-day battle, the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces dropped 328,000 metric tons of bombs on to the 3-kilometer square area, seven times the destructive power of each atomic bomb that the U.S. dropped on Japan's Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
Official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD6PoZJdt_M
"My two uncles died at ages 21 and 22 fighting in the wars. Immediately after the movie, I sent a text to my family expressing my gratitude toward them. I know there are millions of other heroes like them out there. The slender soldiers with a big heart and extraordinary courage really touched my heart," said 33-year-old Hanoi citizen Trinh Thi Van Anh.
"I think the movie was a success because Vietnamese people love their country, and the movie came out at the peak of patriotism," she added.
"Red Rain" was released when Vietnam celebrated the 80th anniversary of its founding and declaration of independence from France. During the festivities, millions of Vietnamese took to the streets to celebrate peace and show their love of country. Many camped for two days to see military personnel and police march through the capital.
"This movie was a bit of a surprise for me. It had all the bits you want to see in a Western movie, but with the beautiful deepness that Vietnamese people bring to everything they do," said 30-year-old British citizen Joe McKinney, who lives in Hanoi.
"I felt like the movie was rushed a little. There were jumps through the days, with no proper continuity. However, the character development was well done and you really felt for the young men fighting in those conditions to support their people," McKinney added.
"I loved how the film stirred up a sense of pride in the Vietnamese people without feeling like it was one side against another, but rather just pride for being Vietnamese. I also felt some pride, and I'm not Vietnamese," he said.
That pride has been apparent for weeks in Hanoi leading up to the 80th anniversary, with roads decked out in the red and yellow national flags and millions of people attending multiple events across the city. Vietnamese nicknamed the event "The National Concert."
The troops and police taking part in the parade became overnight celebrities. One 29-year-old soldier, Le Hoang Hiep, needed guards and comrades to help him move through thousands of fans across the city. This tall, handsome man is becoming an icon for Vietnamese soldiers. TikTok videos of Hiep have received 2.3 billion views, according to local media.
"I appreciate the way the movie boosts national pride. Besides, there were new songs released, parades on the streets, fireworks and inspiring stories from wartime. All of these have sparked the spirit in every single Vietnamese," said Pham Thuy Duong, who has started reading the "Red Rain" novel to her 8-year-old daughter.
"Red Rain is not simply a film, but part of a very successful campaign, and I fully support this approach. Not to mention that characters from both sides of the war are handsome. It's refreshing to see the enemies not being painted in an ugly way," she added.
The producers of the movie had a special screening at the site of the battle, the Quang Tri Citadel. The front row was left empty in memory of the soldiers who died there.
"Audiences, especially young audiences, are not indifferent to history. As long as historical films are of truly high quality, they will create an effect like Red Rain," said Dam Van Anh.