Red Rain: Revealing the horrifying truth, the taboo that Vietnamese people dare not face

In the movie "Red Rain", the moment when the young soldier only had time to call "Mom!" and then lay forever under the Thach Han River haunted many viewers. The short scene depicted the ultimate pain and horror of war.

The Vietnamese film market has just witnessed an unprecedented phenomenon, when the war film "Red Rain" suddenly "broke" the box office and caused a wave of strong controversy. The work of writer Chu Lai, set in the fierce context of 1972 in Quang Tri, not only simply recreates history but also exposes the hidden corners and naked truths of war that few dare to face. With bold techniques, the film forced the audience to hold their breath while witnessing a haunting historical tragedy.

Exposing the "red rain" on the ground: The secret of the fiercest battle

The film is set when the liberation army had completely conquered Quang Tri province. However, facing the risk of losing Thua Thien, the US provided additional equipment for the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) to counterattack, especially the ancient citadel. The entire film is a vivid documentary about the 81 days and nights of fighting to protect the ancient citadel, where the fighting became increasingly fierce.

Using contrasting techniques, the director highlighted the unequal battle between the two sides. Through the flycam angle, the audience was horrified to witness the scene of the ARVN sweeping through with modern weapons, from B52 carpet bombing, coordinate bombing to artillery, turning the ancient citadel into a pile of rubble. Meanwhile, the liberation army soldiers were only equipped with rudimentary equipment and had their supply lines cut off. This contrast not only created authenticity but also strongly denounced the brutality of war.

Heroes or untold pain?

The highlight of "Red Rain" lies not only in the epic battle scenes but also in the humane stories about Squad 1. The soldiers are all young soldiers, most of them holding guns for the first time, but carrying great ideals. They are Cuong (Do Nhat Hoang), a generous Conservatory student who gave up the opportunity to study abroad to join the army. He fights side by side with Captain Ta, a straightforward but emotional person; art student Binh; Tu - a high school student who wrote his enlistment application in blood; and other quiet, hard-working soldiers.

They come from different hometowns, have different personalities but share the same ideals. Ta is simple and cares for his juniors. Cuong and Binh have the romantic traits of intellectuals. Tu is naive, while Hai and Sen are quiet. In life-and-death battles, they always protect and defend each other.

However, the film made the audience choke up when witnessing the number of soldiers in the 1st squad gradually decrease after each sweep. The director did not avoid, directly filming the image of soldiers buried in the ground, their body parts separated. The scene of crossing the Thach Han River also brought tears to many people. The soldiers had just reached the other side when they died from artillery fire. Before dying, they only had time to call out " Mom! " heartbreakingly. This moment haunted the audience until they left the theater.

Revealing the shocking hidden corner: The enemy is also the victim

One of the controversial and also the breakthrough points of the film is the way the director builds the characters. Although full of heroic elements, the liberation army soldiers still reveal very "human" aspects. They are sometimes grumpy and depressed because they witness their comrades sacrifice and have to face harsh living conditions. Captain Ta is weak when he sees the soldier on the other side holding a picture of his wife and children but cannot do anything. Cuong is worried and hesitant because his lover is waiting, but in the end he still decides to fight with his comrades.

In particular, "Red Rain" also opens up a humane perspective on the soldiers of the Republic of Vietnam. They are not one-sided enemies, but also fathers, husbands, and sons, with relatives longing to return. The character Quang (played by Steven Nguyen) is heartbroken when witnessing innocent people sacrificed in bombs and bullets, when looking into the eyes of children who have lost their loved ones. He also regretfully says goodbye to his mother before returning to the battlefield. This multidimensionality forces the audience to reflect on the common pain of war, regardless of faction.

Billion dollar film studio and undisclosed secrets

"Red Rain" also impressed with the huge investment and meticulousness in the production process. The 50-hectare film set was meticulously cared for in every detail, recreating the battlefield as realistic as documentary footage. The explosion scenes were performed by Thai experts and the Engineering Corps, creating a grandeur. What's more horrifying, the film crew raised real maggots to create the wounds of some characters, in order to achieve absolute authenticity.

The actors, although not "box office stars", are mostly suitable for their roles. They were selected from more than 1,000 people and underwent rigorous training in mannerisms, martial arts and fighting skills.

Director Bui Thac Chuyen commented that making the film "Red Rain" was much more complicated than his film "Tunnels". He affirmed: " The filmmaker must create both authenticity and novelty, making the audience curious about what will happen next ."

After its release, the film received much praise from veterans and audiences. Writer Nguyen Van Tho commented: " It's been a long time since I've enjoyed such an excellent Vietnamese war film. " Another veteran, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoi, also shared: " The film "Red Rain" brought back to me those 81 days and nights. My comrades lying in the citadel must be satisfied and smiling ."

However, the film is not without some negative points, such as the love triangle between Cuong, Quang and nurse Hong is still vague, some dialogues are stiff and heavy on propaganda. However, with good quality and boldness in storytelling, "Red Rain" is attracting the attention of the audience, earning more than 40 billion VND on the first day of release and is predicted to soon surpass the 100 billion mark, becoming a phenomenon of Vietnamese cinema.

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