Four Seasons in the Deep Forest was one of two winners in the “Best TV Program” category at the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) awards.
Mr. Le Quyen, Deputy Director General of Vietnam Television, accepts the award on VTV's behalf. (Photo provided by the production team)
Director Nguyen Duc De, representing the production crew, shared the joy of receiving the award: “This award is a source of happiness and a great motivation for our team to continue exploring real-life stories and preserving the truthful, emotional spirit of documentary filmmaking”.
The award-winning documentary. (Photo provided by the production team)
‘Four Seasons in the Deep Forest’ is a documentary produced by The Vietnam Television Center in Southern Vietnam. It tells the story of Nguyen Duc Phuc, an elderly man in his 80s who has spent nearly 40 years living in the forest and protecting the primeval forests at the foot of Elephant Mountain in Da Lat.
The documentary's deeply humane and cinematic approach make it special. The “four seasons” in the film symbolize the cycles of nature and the “four seasons of a human life”: from youth to middle age and old age. The film portrays a man who continues to protect what he loves most throughout his lifetime.
Director Nguyen Duc De shared that the crew wanted to “use the four seasons of the forest to tell the story of the four seasons of human life”, thereby portraying the character’s love for the forest as an inseparable part of his being.
Filmed over the course of more than two years, the documentary follows Phuc through forests and streams, capturing the authentic rhythm of life between humans and nature. Beyond reflecting deforestation and the rapid pace of urbanization in Da Lat, the film also raises profound questions about the relationship between people and nature, and between development and preservation.
With its slow-paced storytelling and emotional depth, Four Seasons in the Deep Forest captivated audiences with its slow-paced storytelling and emotional depth by vividly portraying both the beauty of nature and the lives of people living in deep forests. The documentary also reflects the quiet perseverance of documentary filmmakers.
Impressive scenes from “Four Seasons in the Deep Forest”. (Photo: Screenshot)
One of the film’s most symbolic lines comes from the main character: “The forest has entrances, but no locks. The key to protecting the forest lies in our hearts”. The documentary captures the film that it is genuine love and connection with nature, rather than slogans or regulations, that truly protect forests.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Phuc and Director Nguyen Duc De. (Photo: Screenshot)
The award is not only recognition for the production team's efforts, but also proof of the vitality of Vietnamese documentary filmmaking. It exemplifies how deeply local and authentic stories can still resonate emotionally with international audiences through sincerity and humanistic depth.
