Peaceful life is the most precious thing

The film “Tunnels – Sun in the Dark” (abbreviated as “Tunnels”) was widely shown in Ba Ria-Vung Tau and theaters nationwide before the grand celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification. The press and social networks have given many compliments to the film “Tunnels”. This is a war history film not made from the state budget but still captivating, attracting a large audience. Revenue has increased day by day, to date reaching nearly a hundred billion VND. There are days when there are up to 4,800-4,850 screenings. In Ba Ria-Vung Tau, in some theaters, the film is shown from noon until late at night.

Báo Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu•18/04/2025

“Tunnels” is a popular historical war film, warmly received by the public. I booked tickets online for 100,000 VND/ticket two days in advance, and went to Lotte Mart with my daughter and her husband to watch the movie.

While watching the movie with my father, when seeing the scenes of female guerrilla fighter Binh An Dong living and fighting in the Cu Chi tunnels during the fierce war of 1966-1967, the scenes of American soldiers pumping water deep into the tunnels, using napalm bombs to burn them down, blowing smoke into the deep tunnels... my daughter sobbed:

- I admire “The Land of Steel and the Citadel of Copper” so much! I really love the female guerrilla Ba Huong (played by actress Ho Thu Anh) and the female guerrillas of Binh An Dong, Cu Chi. What power made the guerrilla team so brave and indomitable? Death was as light as a feather for them. The “pee-pee” signals transmitting intelligence received through secret liaison from Saigon to the base, amidst fierce bombs and bullets, were not interrupted at all!

I emotionally said to my child:

- Today's peaceful life must be exchanged for countless sacrifices and blood of soldiers and compatriots. Guerrilla fighters live in the hearts of the people, are the great symbol of people's war. Having a peaceful life is the most precious thing!

My daughter loves books and movies. During the Southwestern border war and the Northern border war, she and her mother carried books to the trenches to give to the soldiers. When watching the movie “Tunnels”, she recalled the historical context and said:

- I have read many books about Cu Chi tunnels; read the book “X6-Perfect Spy” about the extraordinary double life of the strategic intelligence officer, Major General Pham Xuan An; the book “Intelligence Tells Stories” by Colonel Nguyen Van Tau (Tu Cang), an outstanding son of the heroic homeland of Long Phuoc, Ba Ria - head of the H63 intelligence cluster. I wonder: What did they fight for? My parents only said very briefly: For the Fatherland, for peace and the tranquility of the People!

Stopping at an attractive, captivating scene about the character Bay Theo (played by artist Thai Hoa), who lives and fights in a system of tunnels spanning over 200km underground, my daughter continued:

- The character Bay Theo, played by actor Thai Hoa, plays the role very well. The film makes the audience feel it as if it were real. A hero with a strong Cu Chi style: living with emotions, not being pushy, not being rigid, not a great man. Bay Theo's silent sacrifice at the end of the film is profound, inspiring, exuding the justice and greatness of the People's War, truly heroic and touching!

Strategic intelligence officers lived in the heart of the enemy, right in the enemy's lair, collecting a lot of top secret information and then transferring it to reception centers, including Cu Chi tunnels, 50-60km from the center of Saigon, to transfer to the Supreme Command. Cu Chi suffered about 500,000 tons of bombs and ammunition from thousands of sweeps, but still held its position, ensuring the safety of the strategic information bloodline from the enemy's lair to the revolutionary base.

I asked my son how he felt about the movie "Tunnels", he replied:

- The movie “Tunnels…” is an immortal epic. I really like it. Director Bui Thac Chuyen confided from the bottom of his heart: It is time for the press, literature, and cinema to speak more fully about the great sacrifices of our ancestors in the war of national liberation, the war to protect the Fatherland. Describing the war with all its fierceness, brutality, fairness and clarity is extremely necessary. Only then can we highlight the immortal epic, paid for with blood and bones, great sacrifices, for national independence and the peaceful life of the country and the People.

PHAM QUOC TOAN

Source: https://baobariavungtau.com.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202504/cuoc-song-hoa-binh-la-dieu-quy-nhat-1040119/