HÀ NỘI — On Thursday, June 22, the FVH (Friends of Vietnam Heritage) Film Night will present the black-and-white movie Bến Không Chồng (Wharf of Widows) by director Lưu Trọng Ninh, who also plays the film’s main character Nguyễn Vạn.

Based on a well-known novel of the same title by author Dương Hướng, which was granted the Việt Nam Writers’ Association Award in 1991, the movie was a Berlin International Film Festival selection.

Wharf of Widows tells the story of the rural village Đông. It was the time when the North hurried to build up the countryside while supporting the southern battlefield. The movie takes audiences back to the old days of peaceful northern villages and women waiting for their men to return from the battlefield. The war takes the village’s healthy strong men far away, leaving behind their women waiting at the village’s wharf.

Severely injured after fighting in Điện Biên Phủ, Nguyễn Vạn longed to return to his home village. However, he struggles with the stifling family customs and the 100-year-old village habits, rumours and public opinions… Meanwhile, the beautiful girl Hạnh comes into his life and brings rare moments of happiness.

The English-subtitle screening will take place at the Việt Nam Feature Films studio (VFS), 4 Thụy Khuê Street, Tây Hồ District, from 7.30-9pm. Donation: VNĐ150,000. Limit: 50 people. Register: Film group at Filmteam.fvh@gmail.com.  — VNS