Held at a venue closely associated with the origins of world cinema in the French capital, the closing screening marked the finale of a week-long programme introducing Vietnamese cinema to the public in Paris.

The decision to select Red Rain, a film that previously set box-office records in Vietnam, as the closing title proved both deliberate and resonant. While deeply rooted in Vietnam’s historical narrative, the film generated strong empathy among international viewers, demonstrating its ability to transcend cultural and geographical boundaries.

Red Rain highlights a clear shift in Vietnamese cinema, particularly in its modern storytelling approach, emotionally rich visual language and growing international reach. The film explores universal themes such as pain and loss in wartime, alongside love, hope and renewal- emotions that resonate across cultures. The warm reception from audiences, coupled with lively post-screening discussions, underscored the film’s strong impact.

Speaking at the screening, director Dang Thai Huyen, representing the Red Rain film crew, said she was deeply moved by the audience’s response.

“What the film portrays about the 81 days and nights at the Quang Tri Citadel is only a very small part of the true brutality of war,” she said. “We are proud to have completed Red Rain and to have brought the film such a long way. Above all, we wish to express our gratitude to the audience for the applause, the tears, the empathy and the encouragement, from Vietnam to Paris today.”

From an international perspective, sociologist and filmmaker Ache Ahmat Moustapha said she was particularly impressed by the film’s artistic quality. She noted that, beyond its artistic merits, the film conveyed a powerful message of peace emerging after immense suffering. According to her, Red Rain illustrates how, despite profound losses, dialogue through the Geneva and Paris agreements eventually helped restore peace. She also said she was deeply moved by the courage of the Vietnamese army, adding that the message carried by the film was especially strong.

Vietnam Film Week was co-organised by the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA) and AVSE Global, under the patronage of the Embassy of Vietnam in France. Throughout the week, the event attracted more than 6,000 viewers from France and nearly 20 other countries, presenting 17 representative works of Vietnamese cinema.

The programme is regarded as a memorable milestone, helping bring Vietnamese cinema closer to international audiences while opening prospects for long-term cooperation between Vietnam and Europe in this regard.

Vietnam Film Week – The Journey of Light opens in Paris

The opening ceremony of the Vietnam Film Week – The Journey of Light took place on at Le Grand Rex, the largest cinema in Europe and a cultural icon of Paris, on the evening of December 5.