Vivid slices of early Vietnamese Revolutionary Cinema

Launched with a volume of 396 pages, "Movie Lovers' Story No. 2" is a collection of outstanding articles by journalist and translator Cao Nhi - one of the first writers specializing in Vietnamese Revolutionary Cinema. The book is not only a collection of valuable documents about national cinema but also a portrait of a generation of artists who have contributed to laying the foundation for national cinema.

Journalist Cao Nhi was born in 1925, participated in the Revolution from 1945. He used to work as a literary journalist in the army before moving to be in charge of cinema - a field that was still very young at that time. Initially, he was assigned the task of "telling" the content of foreign films to attract audiences to theaters. Later, he became a familiar film critic with the column "Handbook of movie lovers" in the Cinema Magazine. The name "Movie Enthusiast No. 2" is also the pen name associated with him throughout many years of his career.

People behind the screen

The special feature of the book lies in Cao Nhi's approach to cinema. He not only writes about famous stars or directors but also pays attention to those who silently stand behind the stage lights.

In the book, readers will meet many familiar names of Vietnamese cinema such as: Tra Giang, Hong Sen, Dang Nhat Minh, Le Van or Nguyen Tuan. However, besides those familiar faces, there are a series of behind-the-scenes characters such as voice actors, designers, sound and lighting in charge, or film directors.

Cao Nhi does not write about them in a dry way of listing achievements. He tells stories in a gentle, close voice as if he is talking to close friends. Through each article, the portrait of the artist appears in everyday life, simple but full of passion for the profession.

From the sincerity of director Pham Van Khoa, the charm of actress Le Van to the voice acting talent of artist Ngo Nam, all are depicted with an emotional perspective. That is also why the book is not simply a collection of documents, but like a vivid picture of Vietnamese cinematic life in the early stages.

Revealing the difficult backstage of Vietnamese cinema

One of the most attractive parts of "Movie Lovers No. 2" is the behind-the-scenes stories of filmmaking in the deprived conditions of previous decades.

Through Cao Nhi's writings, readers can imagine the arduous journey to create classic films. From building villages for the movie "Vo chong A Phu" (A Phu couple), preparing thousands of extras for "Moi tinh dau" (First love) to the stage of making animated films that must draw tens of thousands of frames by hand - all show the patience and enormous effort of the professionals.

In particular, Cao Nhi's pen is highly appreciated for his film storytelling ability. Director Dang Nhat Minh once commented that reading Cao Nhi's film storytelling is sometimes more attractive than watching real movies. He analyzes the work with the vibrations of a deep film lover, and always appreciates artistic labor.

Even so, Cao Nhi did not avoid frank comments. He criticized with a constructive spirit, hoping that the country's cinema would develop more and more. It was this sincerity that made many artists at that time believe, willing to listen and change after reading his articles.

Not only carrying documentary value, "Chuyện người mê phim số 2" also helps today's readers better understand a special period of Vietnamese cinema - where people work with passion, dedication and a strong belief in art.