“Tunnels”: Patriotism spreads through film footage

Young audiences flocked to the cinema to watch the movie Tunnels.

From Cu Chi tunnels to the hearts of young people in Thai Nguyen

“Tunnels” is not just a normal war movie. The film takes the audience back to the Cedar Falls raid in 1967 - a large-scale military campaign by the US imperialists to destroy the base of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam. During those fierce years, the patriotism, fighting spirit and extraordinary creativity of our army and people came to life through the intricate system of underground tunnels.

From left to right: Ho Thu Anh - as Ba Huong, Thai Hoa - as Bay Theo, artist Cao Minh - as Uncle Sau.

With 128 minutes of intense emotion, the film touched the hearts of viewers thanks to its profound script, realistic images and impressive acting. After 11 days of release (from April 4 to 14), "Tunnel" set a record as the first historical film in Vietnam to reach a revenue of 130 billion VND - a convincing figure in the context of purely Vietnamese films often being overshadowed by international blockbusters.

In Thai Nguyen, cinemas such as CGV, Pixel Cinema, and Beta Cineplex all recorded a sharp increase in ticket sales, especially on weekends. Not only attracting older audiences, the film also created a strong effect on young people - those who are looking for a new, closer approach to national history.

Many young people go to the movies many times. Nguyen Khanh Chuc, a student from Thai Nguyen, shared: I went to the theater twice in Hanoi and Thai Nguyen to watch "Tunnels". This is the first time a historical movie has made me so emotional and proud. Every scene exudes a sense of authenticity and the harsh reality of war. 128 minutes, I believe many viewers really felt like they were living in the tunnel and fighting with the guerrillas.

Ms. Vu Thi Ngan, Thinh Dan ward (Thai Nguyen city), emotionally said: After 1 week of watching "Tunnels", I still feel "suffocated". Even though the film only reflects a small slice, a part of the will, a part of the hardships of wartime, it still makes me ask many questions "why"...? And feel more deeply the price of 2 words: "Peace".

Actor Quang Tuan with impressive appearance in Tunnels.

On social networks, a series of status lines such as "So proud of Vietnam!", "Every young person should watch it at least once" or "I never thought the Tunnels would be so magical" show the positive spreading effect of the film in the community. No longer dry and dogmatic, the history in "The Tunnels" comes alive as if speaking to each young audience: "This is what our ancestors went through so that you can live today".

Patriotism spread through art

The success of "Tunnel" has rekindled the audience's faith in historical - revolutionary films, which were once considered difficult to access and lacking in appeal. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyen, a teacher at the School of Culture (Department of Training, Ministry of Public Security), was one of the first audiences in Thai Nguyen to go to the cinema to watch an early screening of this special film. She confided: We are always wondering how to make students interested in national history. Films like "Tunnel" are a valuable opportunity. Before the April 30 holiday, I planned to organize for students to watch it as an extracurricular activity.

Scenes that make viewers suffocate.

Without any need for fanfare or slogans, the film quietly evokes patriotism through every line, look, heartbeat and breath underground. From a story of war, the film opens up a deep space of memory, where young people can reflect on themselves, understand and be grateful.

"Tunnels" opens up a new space - underground, a new time - the fierce years of the war, thereby arousing curiosity and urging the audience, especially young audiences to explore. It is the intersection between patriotism, national memories, the thirst for knowledge and the trend effect of "national spirit" that has packed the cinema, from the elderly to the young, Gen Z - experiencing and feeling a Vietnam war movie for the first time.

Scene from the movie "Tunnel - Sun in the Dark".

Ms. Nguyen Thuy Quynh, President of the Thai Nguyen Literature and Arts Association, commented: The strong response of Thai Nguyen people, especially Gen Z, shows a real need for cultural products with national spirit. In the era of global information explosion, preserving identity and retelling history through cinema is both a necessary and urgent direction. Hopefully, after films like Dao, Pho and Piano or Dia Dao, Vietnamese cinema will continue to have many more quality works, with careful investment in script and technique, so that national history is not only on dry pages of books but also a vivid experience in everyday life - in theaters, in people's hearts, and in every beat of a patriotic heart.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202504/dia-dao-tinh-yeu-nuoc-lan-toa-tu-nhung-thuoc-phim-fef2bad/