After a month of launching, the model ‘A historical film every month’ launched by the Da Nang Youth Union has opened up a space for useful and emotional political and cultural activities for Youth Union members, young citizens and teenagers across the city.

The screening of the documentary ‘Liberated Da Nang’ brought many emotions to students of the Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy. Photo: H.L

Touching the heart

At the screening of the documentary ‘Liberated Da Nang’ lasting nearly 30 minutes, many young people from the Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy were silent as they watched the simple but authentic black and white film about the historic day of March 29, 1975. The loudspeaker announcing the victory, the crowd pouring into the streets cheering, the choked hugs between the liberation army and the people… led the audience back in time to the heroic days of the nation.

Student Kieu Thi Thanh Tu from the Faculty of Pharmacy, said that this was the first time she had watched such a precious documentary film with her friends. Occasionally, people fell silent when they saw the scene of people cheering to welcome the troops advancing to liberate the city, then the scene of ruined houses and roads full of bomb craters.

The footage did not need special effects, no elaborate dialogue but touched the heart. It was the contrast between the joy of liberation day and the consequences of war that made Tu ponder about the price of peace: blood, tears, and sacrifices of many generations.

Similarly, the private Dong A University Youth Union organized a screening of the documentary ‘Celebrating 50 years of the liberation of Da Nang’ with the participation of more than 200 students and young lecturers. Secretary of the Dong A University Youth Union Tran Hoang Em said that screening the film in a quiet space, without auxiliary lighting, was a way for viewers to fully follow the frame and feel more clearly the meaning of the film.

“When the film ended, some people sat there for a long time with emotional faces. That is something that books or history lectures sometimes find difficult to do when it comes to touching the hearts of young people naturally and deeply,” added Mr. Hoang Em.

Connecting the past with the present

The model ‘One historical film every month’ was launched by the Da Nang Youth Union in March and has been seriously implemented by its affiliated units with the desire to open up a space for useful political and cultural activities. Film screenings are flexible during Youth Union meetings, class meetings, camps and art performances.

Deputy Secretary of the Youth Union Nguyen Thi Anh Thao said that documentaries and revolutionary historical films are carefully selected before being screened to ensure the content of publicity and education on patriotic traditions for the younger generation, especially events related to Da Nang and important historical and political events of Viet Nam as a whole.

Ms. Thao hopes that participating in the model will be an opportunity for Youth Union members and young people to gain a deeper insight into the heroic history of the nation, and also an opportunity to exchange, discuss and express personal feelings. At some units, after the film screening, young people are invited to share their feelings and write messages full of pride and gratitude to their predecessors.

“We want to bring history closer to young people in creative forms that are suitable for the psychology and interests of today's youth. In particular, documentaries are an effective choice because of their visual, emotional and strong connectivity," Ms. Thao added.

In the coming time, the Da Nang Youth Union hopes to coordinate with the National Archives Centre, the Museum of Da Nang, media agencies and production units to enrich the historical documentary film archive serving the programme. At the same time, the Youth Union is also encouraged to organise interactive activities after the screening such as competitions to learn about history through images, reenact historical figures through dramatization or make short videos retelling touching stories from the film.

It can be said that the model of ‘One historical film per month’ is gradually becoming a bridge connecting the past with the present, awakening love for the homeland in each young person through the language of images and emotions, thereby sowing in the hearts of the generation the seeds of faith, responsibility and aspiration to build the homeland and the Fatherland.

Reporting by HUYNH LE - KHANH HOI - Translating by ANH THU