The success of Tunnel: The Sun in the Darkness is expected to ignite investor interest in films centred on the theme of revolutionary war. Photo: sggp.org.vn

HCM CITY — Historical films have the potential to grow further and become a favourite genre among local audiences.

Entrepreneur Nguyễn Thành Nam, one of the investors in the film Tunnel: The Sun in the Darkness, had once hoped that if the film succeeded commercially, it would spark interest among investors toward films on the theme of revolutionary war.

A positive premise

As of the morning of April 22, Tunnel: The Sun in the Darkness had surpassed VNĐ150 billion (US$6 million) in box office revenue, becoming the highest-grossing film on historical and revolutionary war themes ever.

“The tremendous box office success of Tunnel: The Sun in the Darkness makes film producers like us very happy. This success will encourage investors to be more confident in investing in historical films,” shared Ngô Thị Bích Hạnh, representative of BHD, the production company that recently announced a new project, The Guardian Warriors: The Mystery of King Đinh’s Tomb.

Hạnh also commented that now is a fitting time to invest in and produce works on historical themes. 

She cited The Guardian Warriors: The Mystery of King Đinh’s Tomb as an example. The project received strong support from leaders, businesses, and locals in Ninh Bình; it was also advised by many historians and a young generation passionate about history and traditional costumes. 

She said: “What moves us deeply is the growing love for history among many young people. They are becoming an important audience group, eager to see Vietnamese historical films.”

Sharing the same view, actress-producer Trương Ngọc Ánh noted that the success of Tunnel: The Sun in the Darkness is highly commendable, opening a new path for historical films and offering opportunities for those passionate about making them. 

She expressed: “In the past, whenever people talked about historical films, there was a fear they would end up shelved or ignored after production. But now, the success of films like Đào, Phở and Piano and Tunnel: The Sun in the Darkness shows that this genre can indeed be made and welcomed. Every film will have its flaws, but I believe audiences will continue to support us if we make serious and well-crafted historical films.”

This upcoming September 2, audiences will have another chance to see a film on the revolutionary war theme, namely Red Rain, directed by Meritorious Artist Đặng Thái Huyền, with screenplay by writer Chu Lai.

The film is inspired by the legendary 81 days and nights of heroic defense by the people, officials, and soldiers at the Quảng Trị Citadel in 1972, one of the most vivid demonstrations of Việt Nam’s aspirations for independence, freedom, and national reunification during the resistance war against the US.

This upcoming September 2, audiences will have another chance to see Red Rain film. Photo baovanhoa.vn

Challenges to overcome

Hạnh shared that the inspiration for The Guardian Warriors: The Mystery of King Đinh’s Tomb began about 10 years ago from a story told by a boatman in Tràng An. 

However, when production started, the team faced numerous challenges, despite it being a historical fantasy film.

The high budget requirement, the scarcity of historical documentation for the period, and the lack of available settings, props, and costumes made progress seem almost hopeless at times.

The action-martial arts genre added another layer of complexity, requiring reconstructions that were historically accurate, aesthetically pleasing, and suitable for shooting conditions and Vietnamese culture.

Filming in rugged terrains like mountains and rivers was also a major challenge for such a large production crew.

“One of the biggest challenges right now is finding a cast that not only loves the profession and acts well but also possesses martial arts skills. More importantly, they must commit to six months of training and two months of intense filming as demanded by the two directors—something not easy when actors are busy with multiple projects,” Hạnh explained.

This was a similar challenge faced by the Tunnel: The Sun in the Darkness team. Director Bùi Thạc Chuyên even required actors to avoid taking on other jobs during production to maintain absolute focus.

Fortunately, during the months of preparation and roughly two months of filming, all the actors gave their full commitment to their roles.

For this reason, Chuyên often emphasised that those involved in Tunnel: The Sun in the Darkness had to adopt the mindset of historical filmmakers, which is serious about preserving the enduring values of history while being creative enough to ensure the film’s artistic and entertainment value.

At times, difficulties arose. For example, while the team was supported with military equipment, coordinating its use precisely to match each scene’s needs required meticulous planning aligned with the script’s intentions.

Similar difficulties also challenge the production of Red Rain. Beyond harsh weather conditions, the team also faces issues with budget, settings, costumes, props, and human resources.

The success of Tunnel: The Sun in the Darkness shows that even a privately produced and independently funded project can achieve success with the support and close collaboration of governmental and organisational bodies.

This has become a typical model for effective public-private cooperation—an important approach to overcoming challenges for historical films in particular and for the broader field of literature and the arts. VNS