HCM CITY– A documentary TV show on Emperor Quang Trung produced by a private film company in HCM City will be released this month.

The 18-part series, Triều Đại Quang Trung-Nguyễn Huệ (The Reign of Quang Trung- Nguyễn Huệ), features the life of Emperor Quang Trung, known as Nguyễn Huệ, who led the Tây Sơn dynasty from 1788 until 1792.

The series focuses on Quang Trung, one of the most successful military commanders in Việt Nam’s history, and the famous Ngọc Hồi - Đống Đa victory led by Nguyễn Huệ, who was later proclaimed Emperor Quang Trung over the Chinese Qing invaders in early 1789.

The fierce battle on Đống Đa Hill, located in a park in Hà Nội, occurred between Nguyễn Huệ’s troops and the Chinese invaders on the fifth day of the first lunar month.

Nguyễn Huệ launched a surprise attack and defeated more than 29,000 invading soldiers.

Film director Nguyễn Đức Long and his staff travelled more than 500 sites across the country for filming.

“I invited dozens of historians and cultural researchers, including People’s Teacher and professor Phan Huy Lê, historians Vũ Minh Giang and Võ Văn Sen, to complete the screenplay,” said Long, owner of the Việt Long Studio.

"We spent more than two years and a big sum to complete the film," Long added,

He believes the work will make waves in the local film industry, which is being dominated by commercial productions.  

The film Triều Đại Quang Trung-Nguyễn Huệ will be screened at 9:30pm on Đồng Nai Television and Bình Phước Television on Saturday for the rest of this month.

Films about historic events   

While private filmmakers have shied away from making films about historic events, Việt Long Studio, which opened in 2013, produced two historic works over the last three years, including Triều Đại Quang Trung-Nguyễn Huệ.

The studio’s previous series, Ký Sự Đường Trường Sơn Huyền Thoại Thời Bình (Report on Trường Sơn Strategic Supply Route In Peace Time), was produced in 2014 and began broadcasting on HTV9 in April.  

The show debuted at a time when there was fierce competition among TV stations and film companies. It has attracted many fans in the city and southern provinces. 

“Our film project, Dũng Tướng Trần Hưng Đạo (National Hero General Trần Hưng Đạo), a 45-part TV historical series, will complete next month,” said Long, adding that his company is working with TV stations to release the film later this year.

“Young Vietnamese people, including university students, lack knowledge about their own history while learning the history and culture of China and Korea through their movies every night on local TV stations,” said Nguyễn Đình Huy, head of the National Hồ Chí Minh University’s postgraduate programmes and research affairs department.   

"I think filmmakers should produce more historic works because these films will educate youth," he said.

Lê Phong Lan, director and owner of the HCM City-based private film company Bản Sắc Việt, said: "We enjoy making historic movies but the work is not easy.” 

Her studio has completed a 15-part series Dân Tộc Việt-Hành Trình Vươn Ra Biển Lớn (Vietnamese People - A Journey Toward the Ocean) about features challenges and opportunities in a globalised world.

The film depicts Vietnamese, and their heroic victories and losses during war.

Lan said that her company was interested in making historic films but that it faced difficulties in finance and human resources.

She said that cinematography authorities should give priority to support both State-owned and private filmmakers in making films about historic events. — VNS