Before the work "Red Rain" of the People's Army Cinema (expected to be released in September 2025) took the theme of 81 days of hot red nights in Quang Tri ancient citadel in 1972, the film "Scent of burning grass" by director Huu Muoi took on this theme. "Scent of burnt grass" was released in 2012, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the battle to protect the ancient citadel of Quang Tri.
"Scent of burnt grass" is a film produced by the State through the Vietnam Feature Film Studio. Because the budget for the film is too small, many directors refuse because they cannot make war films with such a small amount of money. Finally, director Huu Muoi accepted the film and received more support from many units.
"The Scent of burning Grass" is set in 1971 1972, when the order to call up students from university lectures was issued urgently, they had to immediately support the Quang Tri battlefield. On September 6, 1971, thousands of students enlisted in the army, including 300 students of Hanoi University. The script "Scent of burnt grass" revolves around the fate of 4 students of the University of General Medicine: Hoang, Thanh, Thang, Long. The film has great support from the 6/9 Veterans Association - soldiers who took their days off from the chair to name the association, they provide stories and additional materials for the script.
However, due to limited funding, "The Scent of the burnt Grass" could not fully describe the fierceness and tragedy of 81 days and nights of the hot summer of 1972 in Quang Tri. This is considered one of the fiercest battles in the Spring Summer campaign of 2012.
budget is always considered an important condition for the war film genre. Director Bui Tuan Dung, who made the film The Legendary Writers, said: The film is about the subject of terrible money-making war. From reconstructing the setting to renting costumes. The most costly thing is renting weapons, equipment, explosives... Some groups have to rent helicopters. To have such expensive props to film, the money will not be known to be enough. When making Legendary Writers, we had to ask for great support from the army.
"Because it is too expensive, to save money, for any filming scene with real explosions or bullets, it is usually only done once. We will have to practice, direct the acting very smoothly, and work many times. Then I film a scene with an explosive or a real bullet, and I have to film once to get there" - director Bui Tuan Dung said.
films about war not only earn a lot of money but are always classified as picky about viewers, making it difficult to reach the audience. To touch the hearts and emotions of viewers, to attract them to the cinema, of course, it will not only be through expensive, expensive footage, but also through stories, guidance, and the way the director himself shows the perspective of war and human fate on screen.
When asked about the challenges when starting the project "Red Rain", Lieutenant Colonel Kieu Thanh Thuy - Deputy Director of the People's Army Cinema, Production Director shared that the film crew had built a 40ha film studio in Quang Tri to conduct filming. Regarding weapons, equipment, military equipment... the film crew received great support from military units.
Regarding the approach to the topic of war, Red Rain chose a new approach, sharing an objective, multi-dimensional perspective to revive the story of the battle to protect the ancient citadel of Quang Tri. The film depicts war not only through the perspective of victory but also highlights the pain and loss of both sides. The soldiers in the film "Red Rain" not only fight against the enemy but also face their own fear, homesickness and personal conflicts.
In particular, "Red Rain" also shares the perspective of the soldiers on the other side of the front line. The soldiers, regardless of the front line, fight for the beliefs and ideals they pursue. Because of the reason of the times when they have to face each other on the battlefield and deep in the hearts of each soldier, they do not want war" - Lieutenant Colonel Kieu Thanh Thuy said.
