When wanting to watch a movie, audiences usually need to go to cinemas and buy tickets to watch their favorites. However, for the time being, the general public in Da Nang can watch some of the movies they are interested in without going to the theater, because there are outdoor screenings combined with check-in spaces along the Han River. This form of film screening has breathed new life into cultural and artistic activities in the city, attracting a large audience to experience it.

Meaningful playground

The outdoor movie screening programme combined with a check-in space was first introduced to the public in Da Nang in March 2024 with the highly inviting name ‘Cinema Window’, serving movie lovers on the sidewalk of Nhu Nguyet Street, Hai Chau District. This is a new activity in the city's series of cultural activities and festivals along the both banks of the Han River in 2024.

In the first screening taking place on March 2 to celebrate the 49^th anniversary of Da Nang’s Liberation (March 29, 1975 - March 29, 2024), Da Nang audiences watched the film ‘Thau Chin (President Ho Chi Minh’s nickname) in Siam’ by Director Bui Tuan Dung. The film recalls Nguyen Ai Quoc’s revolutionary operation between 1928 and 1929 in Thailand, where he built a revolutionary base and made preparation for merging three communist organisations towards establishing the Viet Nam Communist Party on February 3, 1930.

Watching the movie with friends, Nguyen Thi Quynh Giao, 20, a student at the University of Education, a member school of the University of Da Nang, said, “ “Watching a movie outdoors, right along the western bank of the romantic Han River, gives me a wonderful experience that is much different from being present in theaters. Outdoor movie screening may not guarantee image and sound quality, but it brings a cheerful atmosphere, not as quiet and stuffy as in a theater. More importantly, the movie was of great meaning, helping the younger generation better understand the Vietnamese history and be more proud of Uncle Ho”.

At the outdoor cinema space, the organizers staged colourful check-in scenes. The highlight is the windows meticulously crafted by Da Nang artists, creating a unique "virtual living" space for both residents and tourists.

Ms. Hoang Thu Hien, 47, a female resident in Hai Chau District said that her family often went to the sidewalks of Bach Dang and Nhu Nguyet streets on weekends for fun and stroll. Knowing that the city was hosting the Movie Window programme, her whole family came here to enjoy fun and experience watching outdoor movies, thereby helping her children understand more about their homeland through historical documentaries.

“In addition to children, many adults came here to watch the movie, including me. I couldn't help but feel emotional when I was able to relive my childhood memories. At the time, my homeland was still in difficulty, and villagers usually gathered at a community place to watch movies outdoors. Over the past few decades, living conditions have improved so it is rare to see outdoor movie screenings like this. Therefore, I hope that the Movie Window programme will run more frequently, about once a month, so that both locals and tourists can have a more meaningful and useful playground.", said Hien. 

Become a movie rendezvous

The success of the outdoor movie screening programme in Da Nang has been studied and applied by many other localities in Viet Nam. Among them was the Cinema Park model located at a park on the eastern bank of the Saigon River in the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, deployed from April 7 to 12.

Right Da Nang itself, Hai Chau District coordinated with the Da Nang Culture and Cinema Center and Da Nang TV to organise the month of screening historical documentaries, taking place on Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Hai Chau District People's Committee Vice Chairman Truong Thanh Dung said that during the movie month, the district’s administration will approve the screening of 6 documentary films to serve the people on a wide-format LED screen system. “We hope that this activity will contribute to educating historical traditions, fostering patriotism, and enhancing people's trust in the country's cause of innovation and international integration.”, said Mr. Dung.

The Cinema Window programme, with innovations in organizational contents, in fact brought about positive social effects. After the success of the first edition of this programme, the second edition took place on April 27 and 28 to celebrate the 49^th anniversary of the national reunification (April 30) and the 70^th anniversary of the resounding Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7).

From the positive effects that Cinema Window brings about, it is hoped that the organiser will receive more cooperation and companionship from units and businesses to enrich the accompanying activities and refresh the check-in spaces. From there, the programme will turn itself into a cinematic rendezvous and a periodic playground for both Da Nang dwellers and tourists.

Reporting by KHOI NGUYEN - Translating by A.THU