At the closing ceremony of Vietnam Film Week – The Journey of Light, held on the night of December 12 at the historic Pathé Palace theater in Paris – the symbolic birthplace of cinema – the atmosphere was solemn, warm, and deeply emotional.

On stage stood the crew of Red Rain, including director Dang Thai Huyen and actors Do Nhat Hoang, Le Ha Anh, and Hieu Nguyen. They performed a formal military salute in unison before the film's screening, honoring the subject matter and spirit of the story.

The event was co-hosted by the Vietnam Association for the Promotion and Development of Cinema (VFDA) and AVSE Global, with support from the Vietnamese Embassy in France.

The screening marked a significant finale to a weeklong cultural event that brought together a wide spectrum of cinematic voices from Vietnam and France, including acclaimed directors, actors, and even veterans. Also present was Laure Cazeneuve, Head of the Jury and Foreign Affairs at the Cannes Film Festival, as a special guest.

The presence of international experts, film scholars, and artists across generations transformed the occasion into a unique artistic dialogue, placing Vietnamese cinema into the heart of global conversation.

Red Rain, a film that broke Vietnamese box office records and was selected as Vietnam’s official submission to the Oscars, closed the event with a defining moment. The film showcased a modern storytelling approach, emotionally rich visuals, and Vietnam’s readiness to integrate into global cinema.

Speaking to VietNamNet, Lieutenant Colonel and director Dang Thai Huyen couldn’t hide her joy and pride. She shared that the audience applauded for an extended time after the screening.

“What we portrayed in Red Rain about the 81-day battle at Quang Tri Citadel is only a small fraction of the war’s brutal reality. We’re proud to have finished this film and taken it such a long way. Above all, we thank the audience - for the applause, the tears, the empathy and encouragement - from Vietnam to Paris,” she said.

From a cinematic analysis standpoint, Professor Alain-Cyril Barioz, a historian in Paris, highlighted the film’s final scene for its powerful symbolism. “The girl’s scarf torn between two officers forms the shape of an ‘S’ - the shape of Vietnam. It gives viewers a moment of distance to reflect on the painful yet tender connections between these characters and within the country itself,” he said.

Vietnam Film Week in Paris 2025 drew more than 6,000 attendees from France and nearly 20 other countries. Seventeen Vietnamese films were showcased, from classics to contemporary works, commercial hits to art house and documentaries. Many of them had previously won awards at international film festivals.

More than 100 actors and directors from both Vietnam and France came together in this vibrant celebration of cinema.

The festival offered a series of in-depth exchanges and was warmly received by the international public. It served as a landmark for Vietnamese cinema on the global map, not only honoring the art form but also setting the stage for long-term strategies in promoting Vietnam’s national image through film.

The event also aimed to enhance Vietnam-Europe collaboration in film and the arts, support young talent, promote international production and training, and expand the global presence of Vietnamese films - affirming the country's evolving position in world cinema.

My Anh