After “Red Rain” and “Tunnels,” what will war movie lovers watch?

Portrait of Mr. Nam Lai (Tran Van Lai) in the movie "Contractor Nam USOM." (Photo archive)

Within the framework of the 15th European-Vietnamese Documentary Film Festival, a film about Saigon special forces soldier Tran Van Lai or Nam Lai - the famous spy who transported and hid more than 2 tons of weapons to attack the Independence Palace during the 1968 Tet Offensive will be screened.

This will be a suitable work for audiences who love historical themes and want to nurture patriotism and national pride after the previously released films "Tunnels" or "Red Rain" .

The film titled “Contractor Nam USOM” (40 minutes), made in 2024, directed by Meritorious Artist Trinh Quang Tung, recreates the portrait of hero Nam Lai and his period of secret activities in the enemy's heartland.

Mr. Tran Van Lai (1920-2002), originally from Thai Binh , began his revolutionary activities early, during both the anti-French and anti-American wars. He was a soldier in the 159 Saigon Special Forces Unit, contributing to the overall situation of the war.

In the mid-1960s, Mr. Nam Lai was placed in the US Office of Logistics and Support (USOM). Under the pseudonym Mai Hong Que, he became the contractor in charge of interior decoration for the Independence Palace. With his bravery and intelligence, Mr. Nam Lai collected information about the Palace's layout, structure, and patrol and guard rules for the attack plan.

At many private properties, he also built strategic weapon storage/basements within the city of Saigon. Today, these properties have been redeemed by his family to become the Saigon-Gia Dinh Special Forces Museum, one of the prominent tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh City.

164655-vna-potal-ho-chi-minh-city-special-addresses-recorded-the-war-of-the-public-attack-saigon-stand-3.jpg

Some images from film and documentary photos of his mysterious weapons bunker today. (Images from film, documentary photos)

Through short interviews with figures such as Intelligence Colonel Nguyen Van Tau (Tu Cang), Colonel Tran Minh Son (staff officer of the Saigon-Gia Dinh Special Forces) or family members such as his second wife Dang Thi Thiep and his son Tran Vu Binh (who is operating destinations with traces of secret weapons storage bunkers in the past)... his portrait gradually emerges more clearly.

“His life had many interesting things, and later became the prototype for the famous character in the movie 'Saigon Special Forces' . His contributions helped him to be awarded the title of Hero of the Vietnam People's Armed Forces,” director Trinh Quang Tung shared.

The documentary “Contractor Nam USOM” will be shown at 7 p.m. on September 15, simultaneously in Hanoi (Central Documentary and Scientific Film Studio - 465 Hoang Hoa Tham) and Ho Chi Minh City (DCine Ben Thanh Cinema - 6 Mac Dinh Chi).

The Europe-Vietnam Documentary Film Festival is an annual program, organized by the Central Documentary and Scientific Film Studio (DSF) in collaboration with the European Union of Cultural Institutes and Embassies (EUNIC).

This year, the film festival runs from September 12-18 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, featuring 18 films from Vietnam and the UK, Austria, Italy, Belgium (Wallonia-Brussels), Spain, Sweden and Israel.

Mr. Pierre Du Ville - Head of the Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation (Belgium) in Vietnam commented that the film festival is an opportunity for Vietnamese audiences to explore slices of life and evoke many emotions through the language of the documentary genre. "This year we will cover many current topics, waiting for you to discover on the big screen," he shared.

Shows are open to the public until sold out. The specific showtimes are as follows: