The film is inspired by historical stories in Con Dao from 1945 to 1954, opening the main setting where the prison is reputed to have imprisoned revolutionary soldiers. In a place considered "hell on earth", Duy (Quang Thuan), a loyal soldier, despite being tortured and beaten, is still resilient, secretly carrying out a plan to build a boat across the sea to return to the mainland, continuing revolutionary activities with his teammates.
Sharing with Lao Dong reporter, the male lead Quang Thuan recalled the days of transforming into a Prisoner in Con Dao that he could not forget.
Disappointed when performing in a "tiger cage" in Con Dao
What did you find special when living in the character Duy - a revolutionary soldier imprisoned in Con Dao prison?
- As an actor, I understand that what the characters go through is only a small part of the pain and sacrifice that our ancestors have gone through in history. Therefore, I spent more time researching, watching films, researching documents to understand and sympathize more deeply with those losses and hardships. I want my emotions to portray the character in the most realistic and realistic way, with the desire to bring the audience experiences that touch their hearts, helping them clearly feel the value and resilience of the previous generation.
Only when I set foot in the real setting did I feel the great weight. It was the setting that resonated, raising emotions, helping me get into the role to more than 90%.
Like the scene in the "tiger cage", just lying down, I got goosebumps. No need to try to act, so many images and documents I have read and heard, suddenly flooded into the memory, making me shudder. There are times when I feel like I am living in that moment, the pain and fear are all real.
Lose 8kg in 3 weeks for role
After completing the film, will this role leave any remaining sound or haunting for him?
- Actually, this role haunted me not only throughout filming but also throughout the filming process even after the film is over. There are nights when I have constant insomnia, even in my dreams, scenes from the film still appear. What haunted me most was the scene at the morgue on the island. At that time, about 15 to 20 actors were in the same setting, and I had to completely immerse myself. The feeling of body shaking, fear engulfed.
In that scene, I was forced to mobilize my imagination to the maximum level, to let each image in my head appear in bulk, helping me feel as close as possible to the character's emotions.
Which scene made you feel the most pressure?
- The scene that pressured me the most was the scene of torture. In that segment, Duy was hanged with both hands up, then continuously had water splashed on his face. This is a one-shot (using a camera to record all the developments of the story), lasting about 3 minutes continuously.
The biggest pressure is that everyone only has one chance, if I stop in between or do wrong, the film crew will have to spend a lot of time changing shirts, drying hair, changing makeup... and then back from the beginning. It is truly a huge challenge. Luckily, I completed the filming in just one go.
How did you prepare for this role in terms of figure and appearance?
- Before turning on the engine, the producer informed me that I only had 3 weeks to prepare. At that time, I weighed 78kg and was forced to lose it to about 70kg. My plan is to gradually cut down on starch, increase protein, eat lots of green vegetables, give up sugar and minimize fat.
The trailer reveals many action scenes such as escaping from prison and fleeing. Did you get injured during filming?
- In the film, there is a scene where Duy has to carry firewood. At that time, my leg was in pain, wonny and I fell for several times. That scene had to be filmed back and forth 6 times, while the terrain was only sotionally cleared, so the ground was rough and full of obstacles. After the fall, my back was purple.
What do you want from the release of the film?
- Of course, as an actor, I always hope that the film will be widely released and reach a wide audience. I hope that especially the younger generation can see and feel what our ancestors have gone through, the great efforts and sacrifices to bring independence and freedom to us today.
Thank you Quang Thuan for the conversation!
