TV documentary show on Emperor Quang Trung released

A documentary TV show on Emperor Quang Trung produced by a private film company in Ho Chi Minh City will be released this month.

The 18-part series, The Reign of Quang Trung - Nguyen Hue, features the life of Emperor Quang Trung, known as Nguyen Hue, who led the Tay Son dynasty from 1788 until 1792.

The series focuses on Quang Trung, one of the most successful military commanders in Vietnam’s history, and the famous Ngoc Hoi - Dong Da victory led by Nguyen Hue, who was later proclaimed Emperor Quang Trung over the Chinese Qing invaders in early 1789.

A picture of Emperor Quang Trung. Photo: danviet.vn

The fierce battle on Dong Da Hill, located in a park in Hanoi, occurred between Nguyen Hue’s troops and the Chinese invaders on the fifth day of the first lunar month.

Nguyen Hue launched a surprise attack and defeated more than 29,000 invading soldiers.

Film director Nguyen Duc Long and his staff traveled more than 500 sites across the country for filming.

“I invited dozens of historians and cultural researchers, including People’s Teacher and professor Phan Huy Le, historians Vu Minh Giang and Vo Van Sen, to complete the screenplay,” said Long, owner of the Viet Long Studio.

"We spent more than two years and a big sum to complete the film," Long added.

He believes the work will make waves in the local film industry, which is being dominated by commercial productions.

The film will be screened at 9:30pm on Dong Nai Television and Binh Phuoc Television on Saturday for the rest of this month.

Films about historic events

While private filmmakers have shied away from making films about historic events, Viet Long Studio, which opened in 2013, produced two historic works over the last three years, including The Reign of Quang Trung - Nguyen Hue.

The studio’s previous series, Report on Truong Son Strategic Supply Route In Peace Time, was produced in 2014 and began broadcasting on HTV9 in April.

The show debuted at a time when there was fierce competition among TV stations and film companies. It has attracted many fans in the city and southern provinces.

“Our film project, National Hero General Tran Hung Dao, a 45-part TV historical series, will complete next month,” said Long, adding that his company is working with TV stations to release the film later this year.

“Young Vietnamese people, including university students, lack knowledge about their own history while learning the history and culture of China and Korea through their movies every night on local TV stations,” said Nguyen Dinh Huy, head of the National Ho Chi Minh University’s postgraduate programs and research affairs department.

"I think filmmakers should produce more historic works because these films will educate youth," he said.

Le Phong Lan, director and owner of the HCM City-based private film company Ban Sac Viet, said: "We enjoy making historic movies but the work is not easy.”

Her studio has completed a 15-part series Vietnamese People - A Journey Toward the Ocean about features challenges and opportunities in a globalized world.

The film depicts Vietnamese, and their heroic victories and losses during war.

Lan said that her company was interested in making historic films but that it faced difficulties in finance and human resources.

She said that cinematography authorities should give priority to support both State-owned and private filmmakers in making films about historic events.