“An Appointment Once Again” is one of the most iconic films in Vietnamese cinema, premiered in 1974. Directed by People’s Artist Tran Vu, the film is set in a Quan Ho village in Bac Ninh before 1945. It explores the theme of revolutionary history through the tragic and unfinished love story of the two main characters – Quan ho woman named Net and Quan ho man named Hai Chi. Due to poverty and social oppression, they were unable to be together.
At the 3rd Vietnam Film Festival in 1975, “An Appointment Once Again” won the Golden Lotus Award for Best Feature Film. Actress Nhu Quynh received the Golden Lotus for Best Actress. The film also bagged two Golden Lotus Awards for Best Director and Best Cinematography. A year later, in 1976, it took the main award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
Meritorious Artist Xuan Mui
The actors Nhu Quynh and Vu Tu Lam are in scenes from the movie “An Appointment Once Again”. (Screenshot)
And now, more than 50 years after the film’s resounding success, audiences of VTV’s new program “Cine 7 – Memories of Vietnamese Cinema” were treated to a special reunion of the film’s two lead actors, People’s Artist Nhu Quynh (who played Net) and Meritorious Artist Vu Tu Lam (who portrayed Hai Chi).
A second handshake after 50 years. In “An Appointment Once Again”, although they share many scenes in the movie.
Sharing his thoughts on the program, artist Vu Tu Lam expressed his happiness and gratitude to the Cine 7 – Memories of Vietnamese Cinema team for making this long-awaited reunion possible over five decades after he and Nhu Quynh first collaborated on the film.
"After that movie, we never had a chance to meet again", Vu Tu Lam said. "Today, I feel truly happy to see my on-screen love once again".
"After filming ‘An Appointment Once Again’, Lam stayed in Bac Ninh to continue his work in Quan ho, while I pursued a career in cinema and later expanded into television", Nhu Quynh added.
Upon meeting her former co-star after 50 years, Nhu Quynh remarked: "At first, he was a little hard to recognize. Back then, Lam was very gentle and reserved—not as witty as he is now. Perhaps being happily married with a settled family life has made him more humorous".
Meritorious Artist Vu Tu Lam laughs heartily at Actress Nhu Quynh’s playful comment during their reunion on Cine 7 – Memories of Vietnamese Cinema.
"Were you being extra reserved during the filming?" Nhu Quynh jokingly asked her co-star.
"Honestly, I was very nervous back then, Nhu Quynh. I didn’t know much about acting. I had attended a six-month basic training course at the provincial arts school, but I never imagined that I would be entrusted with such an important role as the lead character, Hai Chi," Vu Tu Lam replied.
The role of Quan Ho man Hai Chi was also Vu Tu Lam’s first-ever experience in cinema. At that time, he was simply a performer in a traditional arts troupe and was asked to participate in a movie about Quan Ho (duet singing, a time-honored art form of North Vietnam's Bac Ninh province).
"But I had to take on something far beyond my abilities", he said of his role in “An Appointment Once Again”.
For Nhu Quynh, the role of the Quan Ho woman named Net was her second film appearance at the time.
During their conversation on Cine 7, Vu Tu Lam reflected on the significance of “An Appointment Once Again” in his career: "Honestly, Nhu Quynh, I am deeply grateful for this film. It shaped my career and brought me to where I am today".
"People often joke with meand ask me if I really only acted in one film. And I say, well, I’m not a film actor—I’m a stage performer. But this movie captured the essence of our national culture. Though it represented just one region at first, it awakened in audiences everywhere a deep appreciation for our traditional heritage in audiences".
People’s Artist Tu Long
After more than half a century, “An Appointment Once Again” remains a beloved classic among Vietnamese cinema enthusiasts. Through its touching tale of a Quan Ho village, with its melodious and poetic folk songs, the film transports viewers to the nostalgic setting of ancient Kinh Bac.
According to People’s Artist Tu Long, Vu Tu Lam's son, there is a reason why this film has held a special place in the hearts of audiences for so many years.
"It’s a cinematic work infused with the spirit of traditional theater and the unique charm of folklore. Every time we watch it, it arouses deep emotions", People’s Artist Tu Long explained. "The storytelling style of An Appointment Once Again resembles the way Vietnamese people used to narrate their own lives. It breathes the essence of real life and carries something special by incorporating Quan ho culture. The scriptwriter and director must have been deeply passionate about Quan Ho to integrate it so beautifully into the film".
Similarly, Meritorious Artist Xuan Mui, former Deputy Director of the Bac Ninh Folk Opera Theater, emphasized the film’s profound impact on traditional artists of that era, many of whom were discouraged and hesitant about their craft.
"The film An Appointment Once Again was a major turning point—it woke us up. It made us realize that Quan Ho was far more meaningful than we had previously thought", said Meritorious Artist Xuan Mui.
