Quỳnh ChiThe movie "Wild Field," directed by People's Artist Nguyen Hong Sen, was released in 1979, depicting the struggle for liberation in the Mekong Delta, portraying the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people.
The two main characters in the film are the husband and wife of farmers Ba Do (NSND Lam Toi) and Sau Xoa (Thuy An), who live with their young child in a land filled with bombs and shells. They are both simple people, attached to the rivers and creeks, and are also important links in the liberation army's communication network.
Every day, Ba Do rows a boat to observe American planes, while Sau Xoa stays in the hut, taking care of their child and maintaining a fighting spirit. Their life is a blend of the natural beauty of the countryside and the constant danger of war...
Almost 50 years have passed, and "Wild Field" still retains its intense vitality. The final image of the film - Sau Xoa holding a gun, bravely continuing the fight after losing her husband - is not only a symbol of the strength of Vietnamese women but also an affirmation of the indomitable will of the nation.
Faces like NSND Lam Toi and actress Thuy An remain deeply ingrained in the memories of the audience, vividly portrayed through each frame of the film. Each time it is screened, the film seems to come alive once again, taking the audience back to the heroic era of bombs and shells, evoking pride and deep gratitude towards the previous generations.
In the recent program "Cine 7 - Vietnamese Film Memories" aired on VTV3, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan - President of the Vietnam Film Development Promotion Association - stated that the film "Wild Field," with the presence of NSND Lam Toi, Thuy An... has become a timeless cinematic masterpiece.
Dr. Lan emphasized that the artists and crew were willing to sacrifice everything for the work. Despite the limited budget, the film was carefully made and is a testament to the love for the profession and the national pride.
"That was the golden era of Vietnamese cinema. I grew up in a family of filmmakers, accompanying my mother on film shoots from a young age, so I understand that for filmmakers during the subsidized period, being able to make a film was a great honor," Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan shared.
Assuming the role of Sau Xoa in the film, Thuy An received much praise for her authenticity and naturalness in acting.
Thuy An (born in 1958), born in the Mekong Delta, once went to Ho Chi Minh City to sell sugarcane juice to make a living. At the age of 17, she was discovered by NSND Hong Sen and given the lead role in the movie "Wild Field."
Despite being very young, Thuy An completely transformed into the image of a wife, a nurturing mother, a resilient guerrilla fighter, balancing caring for her child with holding a gun.
"I was never trained in cinema but because I was cast in the lead role in 'Wild Field,' I tried my best in acting," she once shared.
As a result, the film won the Golden Lotus Award at the Vietnam Film Festival 1980 and the Gold Medal at the Moscow International Film Festival 1981.
After "Wild Field," actress Thuy An was invited to star in many iconic Vietnamese films such as "Saigon Special Forces," "Season of Choking Wind," "Flood Season," "Whirlwind Region," etc.
In the film "Saigon Special Forces," Thuy An excelled in her role, transforming into a clever duck porridge seller who outwits the enemy, providing support to the special forces team.
From someone not formally trained in stage or film acting, actress Thuy An became a prominent figure. In fact, in the 1980s, she became an icon of revolutionary Vietnamese cinema. Many of her images became famous both domestically and internationally.
While successful in her career, Thuy An faced challenges in her personal life. After appearing in several films, she became romantically involved with NSND Hong Sen and was involved in controversies, as at that time NSND Hong Sen was a married man over 30 years her senior.
After marriage and moving to live together in a 600m2 mansion, Thuy An was accused of enjoying the wealth of Hong Sen and his ex-wife.
However, as she shared with the media years ago, she had to work hard to pay off all the debts from buying the house.
In 1993, when NSND Hong Sen passed away, Thuy An was over 30 years old and had a daughter. After the upheaval, she went to Laos to do business and became close with a Vietnamese living in Germany. Later, she and her daughter moved to Europe to settle down.
She revealed that she was living a peaceful and serene life with her husband and daughter. Abroad, Thuy An also owned a restaurant and ran her own business.
Every year, she returned to Vietnam to visit her relatives. In recent years, the actress maintained a close relationship with her two colleagues, Ha Xuyen and Thanh Loan.
Therefore, when Thuy An returned to the country, the artists still met, chatted, and reminisced together.
