* Note: the article partially reveals the content of the film
As of the afternoon of August 30, after more than a week in theaters, the film "Red Rain" produced by the People's Army Cinema has earned nearly 275 billion VND, predicted to reach 300 billion VND in the next few days.
Red Rain is a war-themed movie that is breaking all revenue records and breaking many limits of this film genre so far.
The difference
Normally, on the occasion of each major national holiday, a film project with a war and history theme will be planned to order with a certain budget, for state-owned film studios to produce.
This film genre is known by many names such as "ferrymen's films", "warehouses films", " musical instruments"... Most of these projects are only released in small, narrow distances at state cinemas (such as the National Film Center) for about a week and then stored. The film failed to sell tickets, and was criticized by the audience for its sketchfulness, dry script, and heavy propaganda.
"Living with History" once could not sell a ticket in 1 screening. "Dien Bien Memories" was criticized for its scale and outdated script despite being invested with a record budget at that time. Most recently, in 2023, the film "Dao, Pho and Piano" caused endless controversy over its production method, release, investment budget, and poor storytelling style.
Many times, the war - historical film genre has had to stand in the center of controversy, even going into a deadlock, when filmmakers have "called for" limited funding, strictly censored scripts, and the audience criticized filmmakers for not being able to escape the dead end.
After the brilliant golden age of revolutionary films, since the late 1990s, Vietnamese cinema has owed a great debt to the history of the nation.
2025 is considered a major turning point in the war film genre, when the private sector participated in the production of Tunnel: Sun in the dark, and for the first time Red Rain by a state-owned film studio was released commercially.
Red Rain creates a difference from investment funding to scripts, character building. It is the difference that has helped "Red Rain" spread by the audience, calling each other to go watch, giving many compliments, admirations... The "Red Rain" effect is everywhere in forums and social networks.
After more than a week in theaters, the film is approaching a revenue of 300 billion VND. This is unprecedented for Vietnamese war films.
Breaking the limit
Red Rain broke many limits to become the most watched war film in the past 2 decades.
Director - Meritorious Artist Dang Thai Huyen used the word "dedicated" to talk about the contribution and investment of effort from material wealth to the strength of the "Red Rain" crew.
Actress Thuy Ha believes: "If it weren't for Army Cinema, perhaps, it would be difficult for any production unit to make a work like Red Rain".
Thanks to the great mobilization of the military forces, "Red Rain" has outstanding authenticity in terms of weapons, equipment, command of the formation, close-quarters fighting, and professionalism in building military discipline.
The biggest plus point of "Red Rain" is its authenticity and iconic images.
The director shows the calculation of the department, from the way he uses a small cast to bring a lively, close feeling, as if they have just come out of a military unit, not the superstars in the silver screen.
Coming to the grand scenes, beautiful filming, complex and multi-dimensional arrangements and staging from many sides, let the audience feel the scale of a battle, imagine how "armed soldiers" are "armed" on the battlefield in real combat.
"Red Rain" did many things that previous war films have not done, even though - they all received great support from the army in terms of equipment and weapons.
In particular, the way of building a story line, the fate of different people, entering the battle from both sides of the front line - is considered the biggest breakthrough, breaking the limits of "Red Rain".
Previously, the image of soldiers on the other side of the front line was often depicted according to the general formula: cruel, heartless, meritorious... even the appearance had to exude evil and evil.
"Red Rain" has shown a new perspective, more humane, more tolerant. Quang - a Republican soldier, has his own reasons, and his own obsession when participating in combat.
On film forums, besides the emotion for squad 1 - many audiences expressed their love for the character Quang - this is unprecedented.
Quang was built by "Red Rain" as a handsome, masculine, manly, gallant person... As Quang told Cuong, "if it were not for this war, we could have been friends". Quang also has his own feelings and tragic fates.
Throughout "Red Rain" there are many iconic images, but the image that is considered the most expensive in the film is when both Cuong and Quang lie down, they hold the two ends of the S-shaped scarf...
On the other hand, behind the tragedy, that war divided the country, broke many families, unfinished many promises, broke many dreams, and tragically ended many fates.
