Director Bui Thac Chuyen: The movie Tunnels haunted me for 11 years

On the afternoon of March 31, in Ho Chi Minh City, the film crew of Tunnels: Sun in the Dark held the first premiere screening and had an exchange with the media and press.

The film crew of The Tunnels at the first screening for the media. Photo: VAN TUAN

Unable to hide his emotions, director Bui Thac Chuyen said: “We made this film with all our love for Cu Chi land in particular, and love for the country and people of Vietnam in general.

He also hopes that people will understand Cu Chi land the way he did and wanted to understand it.

Video Director Bui Thac Chuyen shares about the process of making Tunnels. Made by: VAN TUAN

Although this is not the first time we have had the opportunity to share about the making of the film, the emotions of the cast participating in The Tunnels remain the same as the first day.

Actor Thai Hoa said that before taking on the role, he had time to meet with veteran soldiers and Cu Chi guerrillas to hear them talk about that period. At the same time, he also researched many documents about the tunnels himself.

According to Thai Hoa, there were scenes that seemed very psychological but gave him a very "happy" feeling when acting and it was not too difficult to grasp the character's psychology even though he had to act over and over again. "When I was filming this movie, I thought that if there was no war, just growing up in peacetime and living peacefully would be enough," Thai Hoa confided.

Actor Thai Hoa shares about the process of making difficult scenes in The Tunnels. Video: VAN TUAN

Meritorious Artist Cao Minh admitted that he cried during filming even though his character did not have any crying scenes. “I thought of my uncles and aunts and cried. I was deeply moved because the youth of that time lived and fought so fiercely,” Meritorious Artist Cao Minh shared.

For actor Quang Tuan, being accepted for the role in The Tunnels is a “privilege”. He said that when he was chosen by director Bui Thac Chuyen, he tried his best. During the preparation for the role, in addition to working with the director, Quang Tuan was also arranged by the crew to meet with the Hero of the Armed Forces To Van Duc to hear stories about the fierce war period. The greatest luck for Quang Tuan was to be passed on the fire and spirit of wartime by the uncles and aunts - living witnesses in the land of Cu Chi.

Quang Tuan added: “My uncles and aunts said that if you make a film without the spirit of war, it would be like making a psychological and social film today, with only fighting scenes. I feel lucky that my uncle shared with me so thoroughly. Besides, in some segments I was not very sure about, Mr. Chuyen, with his meticulousness, consulted with the crew and went to find more documents to make it as accurate as possible.”

The actors admitted that participating in Tunnels was a blessing for their careers. Photo: VAN TUAN

Having not had the chance to enjoy the work she herself performed in, for young actress Ho Thu Anh this was a very special experience. She admitted that every day stepping onto the set, into the tunnel scene was like stepping onto a real battlefield.

The setting, costumes and co-stars gave her the feeling of participating in a war, not trying to act. After the first few stressful days, Ho Thu Anh gradually got into character to truly enjoy and savor every moment of filming and participating in the film.

Tunnels: Sun in the Dark is set in 1967, when the Vietnam War is increasingly fierce. The 21-man guerrilla team led by Bay Theo at Binh An Dong base becomes the US military's number 1 search and destroy target when they receive the mission to protect a new strategic intelligence group that has just taken refuge at the base at all costs.

Radio communications with the intelligence group were detected and located by the US military, taking away the guerrillas' only advantage of invisibility in the vast, complex and mysterious tunnel system. The film is a story interwoven between the soldiers' camaraderie, love and desire to live, but above all, the spirit of sacrifice for the Fatherland.

The film, starring Thai Hoa, Meritorious Artist Cao Minh, Quang Tuan, Ho Thu Anh, Hang Lamoon, Hoang Minh Triet, Nhat Y, etc., will have early screenings from 7 p.m. on April 2 and 3 before officially opening in theaters nationwide from April 4.

VAN TUAN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dao-dien-bui-thac-chuyen-phim-dia-dao-am-anh-toi-suot-11-nam-post788534.html