Behind the brave appearance of a reconnaissance agent, Sen has a soul full of scars. Right from the moment he received the script, Le Hoang Long imagined Sen not only existing on paper but also having a real life with a specific background: 24 years old, father sacrificed during the war against the French, the family only has mother and younger sister.

Sen's path was the path that many young men of that time chose: Carrying a backpack, entering the battlefield. As a reconnaissance commando, Sen had to regularly infiltrate the enemy's heartland, accepting to face sacrifice at any time. It was a status that was both proud and full of danger. It was in that fierce context that the depth of the character was clearly revealed through the burning desire for peace . Since childhood, he was nurtured with the dream of a peaceful country, and then that desire became the reason for living. But amidst bombs and bullets, when witnessing the sacrifice of comrades, when cruel reality continuously denied his belief, Sen fell into tragedy. The moment the character "went crazy" was not because of lack of oxygen or the haunting of fallen comrades' bodies, but was the result of pain that had been suppressed for too long.

Actor Le Hoang Long confided in the author of the article.

However, Sen did not completely collapse. The echoes from his teammates pulled him back, giving him a glimmer of sanity and then turning him into a spiritual support for those around him. In the final days, when his spirit was broken, Sen's appearance was like a sudden flame, giving his teammates strength to overcome. Therefore, Sen was no longer an individual but became a symbol of resilient vitality, of the never-ending aspiration in the years of fire and smoke to protect the Fatherland.

To portray the character Sen, actor Le Hoang Long not only read the script but also searched for the image of a special forces soldier himself. He studied documents, met with veterans, listened to each remaining memory fragment and then put it together to form Sen's appearance, habits and mentality. He even trained himself with habits, discipline and professional characteristics to "live" like a real special forces soldier. Therefore, Sen on screen is both near and far. Near because he has the form and emotions of a specific person; far because behind Sen are the figures of thousands of Vietnamese youth during the war. They also left in their twenties, leaving behind their families, dreams and youth, carrying only a simple belief: The country must be independent, the people must live in peace. At this point, Sen transcends the framework of a cinematic character to become a collective memory. Every step, every look of Sen reminds us of the flesh and blood people who have fallen for this day.

Perhaps that is the greatest value that “Red Rain” brings, when it not only recreates a fierce historical period but also arouses gratitude for those who have gone through war. The character Sen, played by Le Hoang Long, becomes a bridge between the past and the present, reminding that today’s peace does not come naturally but must be exchanged for the blood, sweat and tears of countless young soldiers.

NGUYEN MINH TRANG

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/khat-vong-hoa-binh-trong-tam-hon-nguoi-linh-tre-848256