HCM CITY — Film screenings will begin nationwide to celebrate the anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day on July 27.

Organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in co-operation with Việt Nam Cinema Department and Distribution and Screening Film Company (Fafilm VN), together with local cinemas, a full schedule of Vietnamese films and documentaries will be organised.

The schedule includes 14 feature films, including Nhà Tiên Tri (The Prophet), Giải Phóng Sài Gòn (Liberating Sài Gòn) and Người Trở Về (The Return of Soldiers).

Produced by state-owned film studios, these films feature revolutionaries, soldiers and post-war events.

Veteran director Vương Đức’s Nhà Tiên Tri, a 120-minute biopic of President Hồ Chí Minh, impressed audiences after it debuted in 2015.

Based on a screenplay by veteran author Hoàng Nhuận Cầm, the film is about the life of the President from 1947 to 1954 during the war against the French.

Cầm’s work is based on short stories and poems written by the President, including Việt Bắc Anh Dũng (Brave Việt Bắc) and Giấc Ngủ 10 Năm (Ten Years of Sleep).

The film recounts the President’s time in the Việt Bắc Military Base (located in the northern provinces of Cao Bằng, Bắc Kạn, Lạng Sơn, Tuyên Quang and Thái Nguyên), as the country’s first president who led the Vietnamese in their struggle and fight against French colonialism.

People’s Artist Bùi Bài Bình plays the role of President Hồ Chí Minh. 

He worked hard with three experts in French, Russian and Chinese to feature the leader, who was proficient in several foreign languages.

Nhà Tiên Tri was sent to the Moscow International Film Festival 2016.

Another featured film is Người Trở Về, a production about the post-war period by female director Đặng Thái Huyền.

Produced by the People’s Army Film, the film won the Silver Kite prize for best feature film at the Việt Nam Film Festival last year.    

There will also be a series of documentaries screened, including 70 Năm Đất Nước Niềm Tin Và Ánh Sáng (70 Years of the Country- Belief and Light), Bác Hồ Với Nông Dân (Uncle Hồ and Farmers) and Điện Biên Phủ (Điện Biên Phủ Battle).   

The screenings will take place from July 24 to August 19.

Director Phan Minh Sơn’s 70 Năm Đất Nước Niềm Tin Và Ánh Sáng, a production featuring the country’s history and developments by the Giải Phóng (Liberation) Film Studio, will start the event.

The opening ceremony will take place in Phú Thọ Province’s Culture and Film Screening Centre.

The organisers will also deliver videos and DVDs of films to people living in rural districts and neighbouring provinces. — VNS