Author - Work: The Sound of "Comrade Zone"

The documentary “The Comrades’ Region” is led by the song “A Comrades’ Region” (poem by Nguyen Trong Luan, music by Quynh Hop). “While accompanying writer Nguyen Trong Luan to the 1015 peak in Kon Tum province, writer Nguyen Trong Luan played me the song “A Comrades’ Region”. After listening to it, I felt like this song was written for a movie, and I thought that I would have to make a movie with this name. “The Comrades’ Region” was born from that,” director Ho Nhat Thao shared.

Director Ho Nhat Thao (third, left) and the crew making the documentary "Comrades' Zone". Photo: NVCC

The images in the documentary filmed at the peaks 1015 and 1049, the Po Co River and the misty hills of the mountains and forests in Kon Tum province evoke a majestic, quiet space with a strong historical imprint. It was here that writer Nguyen Trong Luan witnessed Lieutenant General Khuat Duy Tien looking down at the Po Co River and burst into tears. Those were the tears of an old soldier revisiting the old battlefield after more than 40 years, tears of missing his comrades - those who had immersed themselves in this sacred land.

With meaningful messages, profound values ​​and unique art, the film "The Comrades' Area" (produced by the Special Topics - Science and Education Department of Vietnam Television in cooperation with Phu Yen Radio and Television Station, Phu Yen Cinema Association) won a silver medal at the 42nd National Television Festival - 2025, in the 1-episode documentary category. The documentary "The Comrades' Area" was broadcast on VTV1 channel, Vietnam Television.

The highlight of the documentary “Comrade Zone” is that it does not focus on battles, but focuses on the sacred camaraderie. That sentiment does not only exist during war, but also remains in the hearts of soldiers throughout the years of peace. “In this documentary, I use a very simple technique, which is the memories of soldiers, the moments when they witness their comrades falling one by one. Those are moments that they cannot forget, it even becomes an obsession in the soldiers’ minds,” said director Ho Nhat Thao.

Director Ho Nhat Thao chose writer Nguyen Trong Luan and writer Khuat Quang Thuy as narrators, because these two writers were the ones who directly participated in the battle here, both belonging to Division 320. Both writers played the role of historians of the division. The scene of writer Nguyen Trong Luan and veterans of Regiment 64 (Division 320) burning incense at the grave of martyr Dam Vu Hiep at the Martyrs' Cemetery of Sa Thay district is an emotional film. The image of a hand wiping the inscription on the stone stele revived memories of a fiery time. Time flows by but the memories of his comrades from years ago still do not fade. Even more special, this documentary seems to be the place to preserve the last images of writer Khuat Quang Thuy, because after that, he said goodbye to us and returned to his comrades.

In his lifetime, writer Khuat Quang Thuy was a close high school classmate of People's Armed Forces Hero Dam Vu Hiep, both from the same hometown. They once promised to study at Hanoi University, but then both put down their pens to take up arms to follow the sacred call of the Fatherland. Director Ho Nhat Thao shared that when making this film, their health was not very good. However, they still tried to answer interviews. When their health was not good, they still traveled with me to the Central Highlands, for what purpose if not for their comrades? These two writers are classified as the first line of characters.

Wanting to have another perspective from another generation to create a new connection, the director chose the second character line as the children of martyrs - those who were born without seeing their fathers. They met at a meeting of veterans of Regiment 64. From here, the film director seemed to prove that, although the war has passed, the connections between their children's generation still exist.

The professional, delicately staged and artistically intentional scenes evoked emotions, created a quiet space, and echoed the sounds of the past. The film "Comrades' Area" ended with a few lines of poetry by author Khuat Quang Thuy: "Returning and then being happy, Hiep/ Even though it's late, it's still lucky/ Mother still had time to gather the soil/ the last shirt for you, my friend". That is an affirmation of the sacred comradeship that the war may pass, some soldiers are still alive, some have returned to the motherland, but the sacred comradeship, the warm humanity will live forever through the years, lasting through many generations. This is also the incense that the film crew in general sent to the heroes who fell for the independence and freedom of the nation. From there, remind the next generation to cherish the sacrifice of those who sacrificed for the cause of national liberation and unification.

NHAT THANH

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Source: https://baoquangngai.vn/van-hoa/van-hoc/202504/tac-gia-tac-pham-thanh-am-cua-vung-dong-doi-93912ab/