People's Artist Trinh Thinh: The great tree of Vietnamese cinema, 60 years of tasting "bi-comedy" through many roles

People's Artist Trinh Thinh has been a familiar face to viewers since the 1960s and 1970s. The roles of People's Artist Trinh Thinh also left a deep impression on the audience, whether comedic or tragic.

People's Artist Trinh Thinh, whose real name is Trinh Van Thinh, was born in 1926 in Hanoi. As a child, he attended the "Western school" opened by France. From a young age he had a special passion for cinema. However, the cinematic activities of Vietnam at that time were still limited, limited to a few public film screenings at Hang Da and Hang Quat theaters, places Trinh Thinh used to frequent when he was a boy.

Trinh Thinh soon had a passion for cinema but could not participate due to this activity in Hanoi before 1954. Initially he worked at Indochina Bank, After 1954, Indochina Bank closed, Trinh Thinh, at that time almost 30 years old, had to work many different jobs to earn a living until he won a contest to recruit voice actors for a Soviet film import and export company in 1956, and at the same time began to participate in the film industry. into professional film activities as a voice actor.

When the Vietnam Feature Film Studio made the first film called "Common River" in the 1950s, Trinh Thinh was invited by director Pham Ky Nam to play the role of assistant Lieu. No formal training, but with the experience of a voice actor, the artist completed the role well. The film was released in the summer of 1959.

After this movie, Trinh Thinh was invited to take part in many other roles such as: the role of Bom in the movie Thang Bom, Mr. Cung in Mr. Luc and his wife, the father in the Golden Leaf, the old fisherman in the Curse of a River. , the district chairman in Quiet Town, the film A Phu Couple, Cyclo... In which, the role of the district vice president in the movie "Quiet Town" and the role of Grandfather Bom in the movie "Tang Bom" was a resounding success and brought him the Golden Lotus Award for "Best Actor" at the Vietnam Film Festival in 1988.

"Thang bom"

"String"

As for the role of the old fishing boat man of People's Artist Trinh Thinh in "The Curse of the River" directed by Khai Hung is considered the first "bi" role that he took on. This role has once again shown his natural talent and multi-talented multi-talented in the seventh art. Director Khai Hung shared, he was completely surprised by the success of this film because he was very young when making this film. That success is thanks in no small part to the merits of People's Artist Trinh Thinh. Director Khai Hung also admitted that when making this film, he was taught many things by People's Artist Trinh Thinh.

"Curse of the River"

With a kind appearance, Trinh Thinh is often trusted by directors to play the role of an old countryman and mainly a comedy role. However, his most impressive role is the character of Mr. Cung in Anh Luc and his wife . This role has also become his nickname.

People's Artist Trinh Thinh is also the face of many overseas Vietnamese and foreign directors invited to participate in major film projects such as the film Cyclo by Tran Anh Hung and the film Indochina by Régis Wargnier. In Indochina, Trinh Thinh plays Minh, an underling of the French colonial police. He is one of the Vietnamese actors (including Nhu Quynh, Pham Linh Dan, Mai Chau, Ngo Quang Hai) who are fortunate to participate in this cult project, even if only with a small supporting role.

During his 60 years of participation in the arts, People's Artist Trinh Thinh has lived to the very end the joys and sorrows of his beloved roles, so all his roles in Saturday art are very vivid. He once confided: "I appear not for comedy, but to convey my tragic mood, of a human realm to human realms. When I have appeared in many comedic roles, whenever I see my face in the film, The audience laughed, so with the role of the old fishing boat man in "Curse of a river", if I appear and the audience laughs, then... fail.

Artist Trinh Thinh retired in 1989. In 1997, he was conferred the title of People's Artist. The last film that Trinh Thinh acted in was the 2002 film Who Comes to the House, released in 2002 by director Tran Luc.

"Who is coming to the house this New Year?"

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Khanh - wife of People's Artist Trinh Thinh said that since the movie "Who comes to the house this New Year" in 2002 by director Tran Luc, People's Artist Trinh Thinh no longer participates in filming because of his health. weakening. Over the past 10 years, he has struggled with many diseases of old age. He had his gallbladder removed (2007), fell and broke his femur (2011), had a heart attack (2012), even had two fatal illnesses.... He was also hospitalized 4 times in the emergency. and seemed insurmountable.

People's Artist Trinh Thinh and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Khanh have a total of 5 children. In the most difficult time, grandparents "work together" to raise their children. Knowing that he was passionate about art, she silently accepted the truth about himself so that he could devote himself wholeheartedly to the roles. In 2011, her eldest daughter, who lives in Poland, stepped up to "impact" to organize a golden wedding for her grandparents at the Southeast Asia hotel.

In married life, there are times when "rice is not good, soup is not sweet", but he and his wife still keep their love and happiness because: "When we were young, we rarely saw each other, so there was no time left. To be angry, but looking at his funny face, I laughed again, how can I be angry?" - Ms. Khanh said.

In Khanh's eyes, People's Artist Trinh Thinh is a thoughtful, honest and careful man. He was funny in the movies but when he raised his children, he was very strict. In the last years of life, after worrying about the lives of their five adult children, the grandparents took care of each other in an apartment in an apartment complex on Nguyen An Ninh Street (Hanoi). The children live on the upper floor, so they often go back and forth, taking turns taking care of their parents whenever "the wind turns to heaven".

Participating in movies mainly with small roles, Trinh Thinh is still remembered by the audience for his gentle face and big nose, as the grandfather on screen in many people's childhoods. Now that the late artist has returned to the other side of the world and left many nostalgia in the hearts of the audience, his contributions to the country's cinema will remain forever.