A scene from Legend of Remote Island by Ha Bac. — Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

Truyền Thuyết Đảo Xa (Legend of Remote Island) is a 12-minute film that starts with two navy soldiers on a remote island telling the story of Rồng Vàng (Golden Dragon).

“In early 2014, when the 981 Hai Duong drilling platform violated Vietnamese islands and seas, I wanted to make a film with this theme,” said Bac.

He met writer Dinh Kinh and the two artists discussed the idea. From Kinh’s script about Rồng Vàng, Bac's film tells the story of a dragon landing on Earth and forming the s-shaped Vietnam, carving the islands with its claws.

“The script is long enough to make a motion picture, but we just mad an animation 12 minutes long,” Bac said.

“It was very difficult for us to tell a short story that inspired the audience. I decided to make the animation using paper cutouts.”

Bac's characters have no dialogue and just use the narrative from Quoc Tri. It took one year to complete the animation with a ten-member crew.

“Through the story, I want to convey a message of patriotism, national defense and pride,” said the filmmaker.

Bac graduated from the Vietnam Fine Arts University and began making animations in 1976. He made a 3D animation in 2005 which won the Silver Lotus at the 15th National Film Festival.

He also made a 3D animation to celebrate the 100th birthday of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

He has been awarded by the Vietnam Cinematography Association and the ASEAN New Media Arts Competition and Exhibition.

He has been a judge at international animation festivals in France, Belgium and India.

He was recognised as a People’s Artist in 2012 and was handed the State Award for Literature and Arts in 2017. VNS

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