Bringing the spirit of Dien Hong in the past to talk about today's current affairs

Using old stories to talk about today's current events

To create the work "From Dien Hong to Tan Trao" which is only 24 minutes long, the group of authors Phung Viet Anh, Pham Van Theu, Nguyen Viet Hung, Tran Van Doanh, Nguyen Huu Phung, Tran Hoai Nam, Vu Le Duy, Nguyen Van Thang - People's Army Radio and Television Center spent a long time to conduct surveys, build scripts, organize filming and do post-production. For journalist and director Phung Viet Anh - Head of Reportage - Documentary Department, this is not only an assigned task, it is also a passion, a joy, a responsibility but also full of pride.

The film crew chose two special national monuments - places that preserve relics, sites, and artifacts in the majestic, epic, and majestic natural landscapes "Yen Tu" and "Tan Trao" - to film most of the scenes.

Making a documentary is difficult, making a film about many periods, the heroic historical stages of the nation is even more difficult. However, right from the beginning of the implementation, the unit's leaders understood the filmmakers' wishes and aspirations, always creating conditions for the crew to produce the film. From that concern, each member of the crew was unanimous and determined, even though they knew that there would be many challenges ahead. Despite the difficulties, the whole group always understood that each milestone in time is a heroic and brilliant page of the Vietnamese nation's history. The moss-covered, towering Thang Long Imperial Citadel evokes many feelings about the Dien Hong spirit of the Tran Dynasty. There are still paintings depicting the Dien Hong Conference of the Tran Dynasty, archaeological sites, and historical relics in many provinces that are still quite intact, creating inspiration for the film crew. In particular, the Tan Trao special national relic site and the August Revolution of 1945 have many historical artifacts that are still quite intact, creating good conditions for filming scenes... All of this motivates the film crew to try their best to overcome difficulties to realize the intention of making a film using old stories to talk about today's current affairs "Reviewing the past to learn the new".

The idea of ​​the film is to use the Dien Hong spirit of the Tran Dynasty to talk about "Dien Hong " in the Ho Chi Minh era in Tan Trao... and the Dien Hong spirit in today's National Assembly sessions, especially the consensus in major decisions taking place in the Dien Hong room of the National Assembly today in Hanoi. Director Phung Viet Anh shared: The crew also encountered difficulties when filming the scene at the end of 1284, at that time, to unify the will and gather the strength of the entire people, the Tran Dynasty organized a special conference at Dien Hong Palace in the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, where the Retired Emperor Tran Thanh Tong and King Tran Nhan Tong personally chaired the conference. Organizing a meeting of elder representatives from all villages and communes across the country, they were summoned to the capital to discuss a decision against the invasion of the Yuan-Mongol invaders.

However, as the event took place a long time ago, it is difficult to fully describe it with the existing images at Thang Long Imperial Citadel and some other historical sites. Therefore, the graphic solution for the film was used to add more options for storytelling, depicting that atmosphere, that context of the Tran Dynasty's army and people uniting to fight the enemy. The crew also decided to use the method of recreating the image of King Tran Nhan Tong propagating Buddhism at Yen Tu. Although it was a long scene in the film, the careful, meticulous, realistic, and emotional scenes served the filmmaker's intention, not giving the viewer a sense of staging. This was also a scene that the film crew invested a lot in, from the actors playing the role of King - Buddha King Tran Nhan Tong to mobilizing modern recording equipment, along with lighting equipment, props, smoke, fire, and costumes suitable for the scene and characters in the film.

Most of the filming locations in the film have rugged, vast mountainous terrain. This is not only an inspiration for the creation, but also a big challenge for the film crew when they have to travel by road, transporting tons of different equipment.

The film crew chose two special national monuments - places that preserve relics, sites, and artifacts in the majestic, epic, and majestic natural landscape of "Yen Tu" and "Tan Trao" - to film most of the deep, soulful scenes. The composition and flow of the film connecting the past and present was also a challenge; balancing historical images and event participants, historical witnesses, experts in cultural, historical, and military art research... The crew had to use many techniques to reasonably resolve the transition of context, events, issues, and film characters in a flexible, harmonious, and unforced manner, while maintaining the authenticity of the documentary...

Innovate storytelling, dare to tackle difficult topics

The film is inspired by Dong Pagoda - Yen Tu, hidden inside the message of the ancients. The word "dong" here has a profound meaning: unity of mind, unity of strength, agreement, comradeship, alliance, unity of heart, companionship... That is the idea of ​​great national solidarity, interspersed with images, the meditative footsteps of Buddha King Tran Nhan Tong on this sacred mountain.

In addition, the filming scenes at the Tan Trao National Special Relic Site were also carefully and strictly recorded by the film crew, especially at Tan Trao Communal House, Tan Trao Commune, Son Duong District, Tuyen Quang Province - the place that marked the country's important event, the place where the National Congress took place, the event that changed the fate of the country, creating the premise for the success of the August Revolution. The Tan Trao National Congress is considered the second Dien Hong Conference in the history of our country, where the solidarity and intelligence of the entire nation converged at the decisive moment of the country's destiny. From the Tan Trao Communal House, the call for national salvation was sent out to more than 20 million compatriots who stood up to carry out the General Uprising to successfully seize power, bringing the country into a new era, the era of independence, freedom and socialism.

Author group Phung Viet Anh, Pham Van Theu, Nguyen Viet Hung, Tran Van Doanh, Nguyen Huu Phung, Tran Hoai Nam, Vu Le Duy, Nguyen Van Thang - People's Army Radio and Television Center.

Talking about the factors that make an attractive documentary, journalist Phung Viet Anh said: “It is necessary to exploit the relationship of: “People, events, and problems”. Documentary filmmakers always need to grasp those three core contents. Besides, the ability to be creative and willing to engage in hot topics in life of documentary filmmakers is also very important. Documentary filmmakers must get closer to the audience by diversifying topics and content, closely following the breath of life and humanity... need to explore and innovate storytelling methods, dare to go into difficult and thorny topics, respect the truth with a multi-dimensional perspective from life, sometimes let life speak naturally; in particular, filmmakers must sympathize with the characters... thereby helping the audience approach the truth of life in a profound and comprehensive way”.

Like “ From Dien Hong to Tan Trao” , many works have been and are being presented by journalist Phung Viet Anh and his colleagues in a diverse and attractive way, so that each film must demonstrate a serious and profound knowledge base. In addition, it is necessary to combine technological elements, combine tradition and modernity, technology and art, renew oneself every day to stick to the social flow, accompany the colorful life…

It can be said that the documentary “From Dien Hong to Tan Trao” has conveyed the idea of ​​great national unity that was brilliantly demonstrated in the Tran Dynasty with the Dien Hong Conference, in the Ho Chi Minh era with the National Conference in Tan Trao, and is inherited and promoted in today’s era and in the future. All of these have created a cultural source, a core value that has created all successes and victories for the Fatherland… creating a system of Vietnamese cultural values.

Le Tam

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/phim-tai-lieu-tu-dien-hong-den-tan-trao-dua-tinh-than-dien-hong-xua-de-noi-chuyen-thoi-luan-hom-nay-post250767.html