Paris, December 14, 2025 – The Europe Today: The international premiere of Mưa Đỏ (Red Rain) at Pathé Palace marked the closing of the Vietnamese Film Week, themed “Journey of Light,” held in Paris, France, drawing strong interest from international audiences and film professionals.
Adapted from a novel by renowned writer Chu Lai, who also authored the screenplay, Red Rain is inspired by the 81-day battle to defend the Quảng Trị Ancient Citadel in 1972. The film is set during a critical period when the liberation forces of the Việt Nam People’s Army reclaimed Quảng Trị Province, once the temporary dividing line between North and South Việt Nam.
The story portrays the counteroffensive launched by the army of the Republic of Việt Nam, backed by United States military support, in an attempt to retake the citadel and influence peace negotiations. Notably, the film presents a humanistic perspective on soldiers from the Republic of Việt Nam, depicting them as individuals with families awaiting their return.
Red Rain has made cinematic history as Việt Nam’s highest-grossing domestic film of all time, earning VNĐ700 billion (nearly US$26.5 million) at the box office. The film has also been selected to represent Việt Nam in the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards in 2026.
Director Đặng Thái Huyền, speaking on behalf of the film crew, said that what the film depicts of the 81 days and nights at the Quảng Trị Ancient Citadel represents only a small part of the brutal reality of war. She expressed pride in the film’s long journey and extended heartfelt gratitude to audiences for their applause, empathy and encouragement from Việt Nam to Paris.
The screening evoked strong emotional responses from viewers. Kim Chi, whose husband is a war veteran who fought in Quảng Trị between 1972 and 1975, said the film brought back vivid memories of her husband’s wartime experiences. She noted that upon returning home, he recounted his memories in tears, remembering comrades who never returned from the battlefield.
International guests also shared their reflections. Sociologist and filmmaker Aché Ahmat Moustapha highlighted the film’s artistic value and its powerful message of peace, formed after immense suffering. She noted that despite profound losses, the film reminds viewers of the efforts to bring peace through negotiations such as the Geneva and Paris Agreements, and praised the courage of the Vietnamese army portrayed on screen.
Alain-Cyril Barioz, Professor of History and Geography in Paris, drew attention to the film’s symbolic ending, in which a girl’s torn scarf forms the shape of the letter “S.” He said the final image offers viewers the necessary distance to reflect on a deeply moving story that binds individuals together and symbolises national unity.
The screening of Red Rain, followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience, concluded an energetic film week that brought together numerous artists, filmmakers, French and European partners, and more than 6,000 attendees from France and nearly 20 countries worldwide.
The Vietnamese Film Week was co-organised by the Việt Nam Film Development Association (VFDA) and AVSE Global, under the patronage of the Embassy of Việt Nam in France. Phạm Thị Kim Yến, Minister Counsellor at the Embassy, said the event was not merely a screening programme but a cultural journey inviting audiences to explore Việt Nam’s landscapes, people, dreams and challenges through cinema, while celebrating the creativity, resilience and spirit of the country.
