The screenplay of a popular movie about President Ho Chi Minh,compiled by veteran writer Son Tung, has just hit bookshelves throughoutthe country.
Entitled Cuoc Chia Ly Tren Ben Nha Rong (Farewellon Nha Rong Wharf), the work was adapted from the novel Bup Sen Xanh(Green Lotus) by Tung, himself, into a screenplay for the movie Hen GapLai Sai Gon (See You Again in Sai Gon) and directed by Long Van in 1990.
The draft of the screenplay was written in 1978, featuring Ho Chi Minh in his 20s. Yet the story was not filmed at that time.
Tungthen added more materials he collected and turned the screenplay intothe novel Bup Sen Xanh, which is considered one the most successfulworks and features Ho Chi Minh as an ordinary person, from a land notedof people who are fond of learning in the central province of Nghe An.The novel has been reprinted 30 times in the country and translated intonumerous languages.
However, according to the writer, the noveldid not focus on the deep love between young patriot Nguyen Tat Thanh(the born name of Ho Chi Minh used between 1901 and 1921) and a youngsouthern woman, Le Thi Hue.
In 1987, some film directorssuggested cooperating with Tung to film the novel to celebrate the 100thbirthday of the late President. For that reason, Tung adapted Bup SenXanh into the movie screenplay Cuoc Chia Ly Tren Ben Nha Rong.
Inthis new screenplay, Tung maintained the basic content of Bup Sen Xanh,while further depicting the love of Hue and Thanh. Their passionatefeelings arose when Thanh joined Quoc Hoc Hue school in 1907, though theyoung patriot set off for France in 1911 as a cook in a cargo ship tostart his journey to seek a way to liberate the nation from colonialism.
Inone of the most touching scenes in the movie, Thanh gave a comb to Hue,saying: "This comb belonged to my mother. My father bought her this as asouvenir before he left his homeland to go to the capital citadel tosit for a royal exam. My mother combed her hair with this for years.Since my mom passed away, I have kept it as a treasure. Now I give thisto you as a gift, instead of speaking out the holy word you are waitingfor."
Tung said that in order to write this section, he tried hisbest to find Hue, Thanh's girlfriend. He even sold his small house inHanoi to head for HCM City with his wife to look for Hue. They spentthree months before finding her. Hue, now an old woman, asked thewriter: "You have lived near President Ho for a long time. Have you everheard him mention a woman called Hue?"
"I have never heard him say so. But, I saw several times that he put a branch of hue (tuberose) on his desk," he replied.
Huewas stunned for a while, her eyes were filled with tears. She then toldTung her story, but asked him to swear not to publish the story untilshe had died.
"I did not write the screenplay by chance," Tung said, "It stems from my respect for Ho Chi Minh."
Tung was born in 1928 in Nghe An, the same province as Ho Chi Minh's home, and he is a distant relative of the president.
Tungjoined in two wars, against the French and Americans, working on theinformation and training staff from 1944 to 1971, before becoming awriter.
After the war, he had lost much of his health, having suffered from many injures.
Yet, he has written dozens of novels and short story collections since 1974.
Hehas also written 13 works about President Ho Chi Minh, while his mostsuccessful one is Bup Sen Xanh. He is considered to be the writer withthe most successful works about President Ho Chi Minh.-VNA
Entitled Cuoc Chia Ly Tren Ben Nha Rong (Farewellon Nha Rong Wharf), the work was adapted from the novel Bup Sen Xanh(Green Lotus) by Tung, himself, into a screenplay for the movie Hen GapLai Sai Gon (See You Again in Sai Gon) and directed by Long Van in 1990.
The draft of the screenplay was written in 1978, featuring Ho Chi Minh in his 20s. Yet the story was not filmed at that time.
Tungthen added more materials he collected and turned the screenplay intothe novel Bup Sen Xanh, which is considered one the most successfulworks and features Ho Chi Minh as an ordinary person, from a land notedof people who are fond of learning in the central province of Nghe An.The novel has been reprinted 30 times in the country and translated intonumerous languages.
However, according to the writer, the noveldid not focus on the deep love between young patriot Nguyen Tat Thanh(the born name of Ho Chi Minh used between 1901 and 1921) and a youngsouthern woman, Le Thi Hue.
In 1987, some film directorssuggested cooperating with Tung to film the novel to celebrate the 100thbirthday of the late President. For that reason, Tung adapted Bup SenXanh into the movie screenplay Cuoc Chia Ly Tren Ben Nha Rong.
Inthis new screenplay, Tung maintained the basic content of Bup Sen Xanh,while further depicting the love of Hue and Thanh. Their passionatefeelings arose when Thanh joined Quoc Hoc Hue school in 1907, though theyoung patriot set off for France in 1911 as a cook in a cargo ship tostart his journey to seek a way to liberate the nation from colonialism.
Inone of the most touching scenes in the movie, Thanh gave a comb to Hue,saying: "This comb belonged to my mother. My father bought her this as asouvenir before he left his homeland to go to the capital citadel tosit for a royal exam. My mother combed her hair with this for years.Since my mom passed away, I have kept it as a treasure. Now I give thisto you as a gift, instead of speaking out the holy word you are waitingfor."
Tung said that in order to write this section, he tried hisbest to find Hue, Thanh's girlfriend. He even sold his small house inHanoi to head for HCM City with his wife to look for Hue. They spentthree months before finding her. Hue, now an old woman, asked thewriter: "You have lived near President Ho for a long time. Have you everheard him mention a woman called Hue?"
"I have never heard him say so. But, I saw several times that he put a branch of hue (tuberose) on his desk," he replied.
Huewas stunned for a while, her eyes were filled with tears. She then toldTung her story, but asked him to swear not to publish the story untilshe had died.
"I did not write the screenplay by chance," Tung said, "It stems from my respect for Ho Chi Minh."
Tung was born in 1928 in Nghe An, the same province as Ho Chi Minh's home, and he is a distant relative of the president.
Tungjoined in two wars, against the French and Americans, working on theinformation and training staff from 1944 to 1971, before becoming awriter.
After the war, he had lost much of his health, having suffered from many injures.
Yet, he has written dozens of novels and short story collections since 1974.
Hehas also written 13 works about President Ho Chi Minh, while his mostsuccessful one is Bup Sen Xanh. He is considered to be the writer withthe most successful works about President Ho Chi Minh.-VNA
