As a cinematographer who grew up in the flames of war, entering the war as a “visual historian”, every step through the battlefield always left him with unforgettable memories, including What are the most painful memories?
– There are so many, I don’t know when they will end. I still remember in 1975, the Voice of Vietnam had 3 groups of reporters and editors in the South.
Like Ms. To Uyen and Mr. Huynh Van Tieng – Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists Association – had just gotten married, got in the car to go to the South and considered it their honeymoon.
At that time, we left without knowing when we would return, nor knowing whether we would live or die, but everyone was proud that “we were Uncle Ho’s descendants” and determined to go, we had to do something. On our way to the South, the two sides were still fighting.
We went day and night, the enemy attacked the bridges, so we had to go around under the cliff, then use stones to block the vehicle to pass. Bombing was fierce, there was no house on the ground, we had to sleep underground. The crew has a lot of editing, little filming, our mission is to record images and facts.
My clothes were all wet, but I still had to wear the camera and keep it from getting wet. If the camera gets wet or broken, when going to the South there will be nothing to shoot and the trip will become meaningless. Therefore, everyone is afraid of death but still has to go so that today there can be independence and freedom for the country.
I thought, at that time I could die but I could also live to be proud that I had contributed a small part to the victory.
That was the story in 1967, a beautiful student at Hanoi Medical University, named Ngo Thi Ngoc Tuong, examined patients in the suburbs. Five years later, she was preparing to get married and distributed pink cards to friends and relatives.
But tragically, exactly one day before the wedding, on the way to work from Bach Mai Hospital to home in the Lo Duc area, an American bomb took her life. Her family brought her body home, and her wedding dress became her shroud. Worn wedding invitations in a gloomy house. In the midst of that tragic situation, there still exudes faith in victory.
Or in 1968, I was present at the Vinh Linh battlefield, the place that was most heavily bombed by the US imperialists, to take pictures. On the way to film, I met 10 girls at Dong Loc Junction. But when they returned from filming, they all sacrificed their lives. That is one of the most painful memories I remember.
It is known that Meritorious Artist Pham Viet Tung is the first cameraman of Vietnam Television who was lucky enough to hold a camera and follow President Ho Chi Minh. What memories and teachings of Uncle Ho moved you and made you unforgettable?
– Uncle Ho always taught us: “Culture and arts are a front, a journalist is a soldier on that front.” Every journalist must improve their qualifications, everything they do must come from the people and serve the people.
He also always creates favorable conditions to help those filming and taking photos. Many times, Uncle asked: “Did you bring enough film? If you don’t bring enough film, I will go back and film it.”
Uncle Khanh Du was the one who filmed Uncle Ho when he went to the Soviet Union. Uncle Ho always went first while filming and his assistant followed, but to have beautiful photos and videos, the filming and photography had to go first.
I knew the cameraman couldn’t film, so I said, “Honey, couldn’t you film just now? I was going too fast, so you couldn’t film, right? So, I’ll get back in the car and go down so you can film.” “. Then Uncle Ho showed which scene to shoot and how to shoot to show politics, national pride, and Vietnam’s equality with the world.
Or there was a time when Uncle Ho held a meeting of the Government Council in a dark room. With the naked eye, everyone could still see the meeting, but if it was to film, it couldn’t be filmed because there wasn’t enough light. At that time, Uncle told the guys to climb up to the roof, take down the leaves, let the light in and they could film right away. Saying so shows that Uncle Ho understands the profession very well and is close to us cameramen.
Or there was a time when the women at the National Salvation Women’s Association saw Uncle Ho asking to mend his shirt, but the shirt was too worn, so they sewed a new shirt for him, but he was determined not to use it. He left it until he met the elders. If it’s excellent, Uncle will give it to you. As for cadres, Uncle Ho always advised: “Serve the revolution, do a lot, but count your merits for the revolution only a little.”
In your opinion, what determined you to become an excellent “visual historian”?
– I really love my job and spend a lot of time on my career, so I got married late. In my life I have made hundreds of films, each film must choose the right perspective that people in the country and the world care about.
There must be a connection to the present for my films to have long-term value. And especially, it must be critical. Whatever I say must have an explanation.
Are you haunted by the things you experienced during the war?
– Actually, there were nights when I was lying down and suddenly I woke up because I remembered the sound of bombs, then thought about the scenes I experienced during my work, and felt proud because I made a small contribution to the war. protect the country.
Sometimes we also get “angry” because there are people who return from the war without being adequately compensated. They endure hardships to fight the enemy and protect the Fatherland, which is worth doing. But when they return, life is difficult, people don’t know where to turn.
Then think about how in the past our grandparents had to sacrifice and suffer to have peace. Even though they suffered, they were still proud. Nowadays… there are “things we see that hurt our hearts”.
The war has passed, but when you look back at the documentary footage and stories you witnessed, what topics about war do you still cherish?
– I want to tell the story of a woman named Nhan (in Dong Anh, Hanoi), who is still alive. Her life was unfortunate. Not long after she got married, before she knew what their love life was like, he died from a B52 bomb.
26 years ago, I met her and heard that very painful story. The story itself is the most convincing condemnation of war, there is no need to add bombs or bullets or we won, the enemy lost…
At the age of U90, how can Meritorious Artist Pham Viet Tung still exude clarity, have a generous, vibrant and enthusiastic voice, and not have the appearance of a person at that “once upon a time rare” age?
– In fact, even though I had to go through hardships and dangers to get every piece of footage during the war, I am always proud and happy that it was the smoke, fire, and bombs that trained cameramen like me to be excellent. A fierce spirit, an artistic ego full of personality.
Having gone through two wars, at this age I feel happy because I can still work and not rest. I still work as a historical consultant for young people who are passionate about the television genre because I always think “giving is receiving”, never thinking about the benefits.
Occasionally, I still come to talk and exchange experiences with officials and reporters of central and local television stations such as Vietnam Television, Ho Chi Minh City Television, and Tuyen Quang Radio and Television. .. to avoid “missing my job”.
As for life, whether in peace or war, there is always a struggle, a struggle to become a good person, gradually eliminating the bad. I raise my children to become kind people and that is the greatest happiness of a father.
Sincerely thank you for sharing!
Design: Huu Bach
01/05/2024 – 06:11
