The spirited diary of war martyr Dang Thuy Tram, which has captured the public’s imagination was once again honoured during the 16th Viet Nam Film Festival, . . .

Best movie: Director Dang Nhat Minh (second right) receives the Golden Lotus Prize at the Viet Nam Film Festival’s awards ceremony on Saturday.

Two other movies which have also received much attention from Vietnamese audiences Trang Noi Day Gieng (Moon at the bottom of the Well) directed by Nguyen Vinh Son, and director Vuong Duc’s Rung Den (Black Forest) were awarded the Silver Lotus. 14 Ngay Phep (14 Days off in Homeland) directed by Nguyen Trong Khoa was voted the most popular movie by audiences in HCM City.

“It’s not very surprising to me because the diary and the film have received much attention from the public after being screened domestically and internationally. Audiences have shown a lot of love for the film,” said director Dang Nhat Minh.

He thanked the diary’s author and American soldier Fred Whitehurst, who kept the diary for 35 years before returning it to her family three years ago. Minh said the book made a deep impression on him and he set to work on the script immediately after he had read it. However, it was shelved as he didn’t know when he was going to be in a condition to shoot it.

“One day, an official from the Viet Nam Cinema Department phoned me and asked if I had read the book and I’d like to transcript it. I finished the script and sent it to him,” Minh recalled.

The film, which won the Audience Award at Fukuoka International Film Festival in Japan in September, has been chosen to officially represent Vietnamese cinema in the best foreign language film category at the 2010 Oscars in Los Angeles next March.

“It’s like a dream come true for the film to be honoured at the prize but I don’t think it will win,” Minh said. Journalist Trinh Le Van, head of the jury, said ten out of the 11 members of the board voted for the film because it depicted the war through the eyes of a civilian, portrayed harmony of content and art and stirred public emotion.

Organisers named Do Nguyen Lan Ha who starred in Trai Tim Be Bong (The Little Heart) the best leading actress, and Dustin Nguyen the best leading actor in Huyen Thoai Bat Tu (Immortal Legend), which won the Golden Kite Prize in March.

Ha, who arrived late to the awards ceremony, said she was sad because she did not have the opportunity to go up on stage to receive her prize. She said it was a big surprise to receive the title because she did not think she would defeat many other experienced artists. Looking back, she said she was not satisfied with her performance in the film.

Director Bui Thac Chuyen, who was voted the best director for his Choi Voi (Adrift) at the film festival said he was happy to see audiences arguing with each other in the cinema because it showed the film was a success.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News