LEGENDARY DIRECTOR - The film screening programme entitled “Tháng Phim Đặng Nhật Minh: Bây Giờ Đã Đến Tháng Mười” (Month of Đặng Nhật Minh’s Films: October Is Here) will be held from October 5 to 29 in HCM City to honour director Đặng Nhật Minh, one of Việt Nam's greatest filmmakers. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

HCM CITY — A special film screening programme to honour director Đặng Nhật Minh, one of Việt Nam's greatest filmmakers, will take place in HCM City from October 5 to 29.

The event is entitled “Tháng Phim Đặng Nhật Minh: Bây Giờ Đã Đến Tháng Mười” (Month of Đặng Nhật Minh’s Films: October Is Here) and will offer a screening of Minh’s documentary Tháng Năm: Những Gương Mặt (The Faces of May) from 1977, which earned the director the Silver Lotus at the Việt Nam Film Festival in the same year. It was the first movie award in his career.

The programme will also feature eight movies Thị Xã Trong Tầm Tay (The Town Within Reach) in 1983, Bao Giờ Cho Đến Tháng Mười (When October Comes) in 1984, Cô Gái Trên Sông (The Girl on the River) in 1987, Trở Về (The Return) in 1994, Thương Nhớ Đồng Quê (Nostalgia for Countryside) in 1995, Hà Nội Mùa Đông Năm 46 (Hà Nội – Winter 1946) in 1997, Mùa Ổi (The Guava House) in 2000, and Hoa Nhài (Jasmine) in 2022.

Among the works, Bao Giờ Cho Đến Tháng Mười is listed as one of the 18 best Asian films of all time by CNN.

The film is a haunting portrayal of one woman’s struggle with loss and personal sacrifice during the war.

It won a Special Jury Award at the Hawaii International Film Festival in 1985, as well as a Golden Lotus award for best feature film and an award for best director at the Việt Nam Film Festival in the same year.

Meanwhile, Hoa Nhài is possibly the final film by Minh to end his glorious career.

The work depicts the lives of ordinary Hanoians during busy lives in an urban area, focusing on kindness and concern for others which always connects people and makes life meaningful.

The film premiered at the Hà Nội International Film Festival in 2022.

A meeting with director Minh will also be set up during the event.

Born in Huế in 1938, Minh began making documentaries in 1965. His first documentaries include Theo chân những người địa chất (On the Trails of Geologists) in 1965 and Hà Bắc Quê Hương (Hà Bắc – My Native Land) in 1967.

His movie Đừng Đốt (Don’t Burn) became the Vietnamese representative at the 82nd Academy Awards.

He became the first Vietnamese citizen to be awarded the Nikkei Asia Prize for Culture in 1991, and the first Vietnamese director to be honoured by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his dedication to cinematography in 2010.

Minh also received the Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Gwangju International Film Festival in South Korea in 2005, and the Licorne d'Or d'Honneur (Golden Unicorn Award) at the 36th Amiens International Film Festival in 2016.

He was granted the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters for his contributions to enhancing cultural understanding between Việt Nam and France by the French Ministry of Culture in 2022.

The “Tháng Phim Đặng Nhật Minh: Bây Giờ Đã Đến Tháng Mười” event is organised by Trigger Film Academy, Storii and DCINE Cinemas with support of the HCM City Department of Culture and Sports, the Việt Nam Film Institute, and the Fukuoka City Public Library.

The screening will take place at DCINE Bến Thành at 6 Mạc Đỉnh Chi Street in District 1. Information for the schedule will be uploaded at https://www.facebook.com/trigger.filmacademy/. — VNS