Documentary “Long Hair Amidst Gunfire” (10:30 PM, VTV1)

In his personal diary, Professor Ton That Tung devoted many pages to his time in Dien Bien Phu, where he expressed deep respect for his female colleagues  at the front.

In the documentary footage of the Vietnamese anti-French resistance by the respected Soviet filmmaker Roman Karmen, performing arts troupes were highlighted as an important part of the war effort. These troupes were made up   of women from all over the country – some professionally trained, others joined out of  youthful spontaneity – all of whom played an essential role in boosting the morale of soldiers.

Karmen’s film shows that female performers outnumbered their male counterparts, and behind the scenes, they endured challenges even greater than  those captured on camera. The sorrow and losses they experienced remain a lasting scar of the war.

Similarly, in a silk painting by artist Pham Thanh Tam portraying a performance by art troupe members inside an anti-aircraft bunker, soldiers are seen enjoying folk songs from their hometowns – brief moments of serenity just before they face the battlefield and eternity.

For Vietnamese women, the war was brutal but it  never broke their spirit. They witnessed the suffering of the wounded, sensed the danger surrounding each soldier, and endured intense emotional strain. Yet, they also embraced peace and victory with a quiet, profound grace.

The documentary Long Hair Amidst Gunfire, produced by the Department of Features and Education, Vietnam Television (VTV), airs at 10:30 PM tonight (May 5) on VTV1. Don't miss it!