At the event, behind-the-scenes stories and memories of Vietnam’s cinematic golden era were revived, leaving a deep impression on the audience.
An Emotional Reunion
Recently, the first episode of Cine – Memories of Vietnamese Cinema aired, bringing a special yet deeply moving moment. Two veteran artists of Vietnamese cinema, People’s Artist Như Quỳnh and Meritorious Artist Vũ Tự Lẫm, reunited for the first time in over 50 years since the release of Den Hen Lai Len (1974).
The sight of the former co-stars joyfully reuniting and sharing memories of their youthful days on set moved not only them but also the viewers to tears.
People’s Artist Như Quỳnh and Meritorious Artist Vũ Tự Lẫm reunite after 50 years (Photo: Program provided).
During the program, Meritorious Artist Vũ Tự Lẫm couldn’t hide his joy at reuniting with People’s Artist Như Quỳnh after half a century.
“Since the completion of the film, we haven’t had the chance to meet again. Today, being able to reunite and see my on-screen love interest once more makes me incredibly happy and emotional,” Vũ Tự Lẫm shared as the program began.
Sitting beside him, People’s Artist Như Quỳnh reminisced about those bygone days. Meeting after five decades, she admitted it was initially hard to recognize her former co-star.
“After finishing Den Hen Lai Len, Mr. Lẫm returned to promoting quan họ folk music in Bac Ninh, while I continued pursuing feature films and later ventured into television dramas.
At first glance, I found it difficult to recognize Mr. Lẫm. Back then, he was very gentle, quiet, and reserved, unlike his humorous self today. Perhaps now, with a loving family, he has become more open,” Như Quỳnh shared.
Meritorious Artist Vũ Tự Lẫm simply smiled at Như Quỳnh’s teasing. He recalled his filming days with a mix of nostalgia and pride. As the program replayed a scene from the movie, Vũ Tự Lẫm was brought to tears.
“Quan họ folk songs from Bac Ninh were fading at that time. Our mission was to form a quan họ troupe to preserve this cultural heritage. Honestly, playing the male lead was beyond my abilities since I only had a few months of acting training.
I’m truly grateful for this film. It shaped who I am today, along with my character Hai Chi,” Vũ Tự Lẫm reflected.
He recounted how someone once jokingly asked him, “You’re a film actor but you’ve only acted in one movie?”
“I laughed and replied, ‘Well, I’m not really a film actor; I’m a stage performer. This film captured the soul of our nation, even though it initially represented just one region. But when traditional culture is revived in the hearts of the public, people begin to fully appreciate its value,'” Vũ Tự Lẫm shared.
The second handshake between the two artists after 50 years. In Den Hen Lai Len, despite many scenes together, the characters Nết and Hai Chi only held hands once (Photo: VTV).
Back then, Meritorious Artist Vũ Tự Lẫm was just 22 years old and selected for the film during the golden age of the Bac Ninh Quan Họ Troupe. At the time, he balanced performing with the troupe and working on films for the Vietnam Feature Film Studio. Each day of filming earned him an allowance of 1 đồng (a bowl of pho cost 6 hào back then).
“I juggled both acting and performing with the Quan Họ Troupe, so I rarely saw Như Quỳnh. I only came to the set when the director called, but understanding my role, I immersed myself in the character with genuine emotions,” he said.
For a time, wherever he went, people affectionately recognized him as “Anh Hai Chi” (Nết’s husband).
Not only was Den Hen Lai Len a pivotal milestone for both artists, but it also became a cherished memory for generations of Vietnamese cinema lovers.
As old film clips were replayed on screen, both artists were visibly moved, their long-buried emotions from half a century ago resurfacing, transporting them back to their youthful days on set.
A scene from Den Hen Lai Len (Screenshot).
Den Hen Lai Len – A Timeless Cinematic Masterpiece
Released in 1974, Den Hen Lai Len, directed by Trần Vũ, became one of the classic films of Vietnam’s revolutionary cinema.
Set in the quan họ village of Kinh Bac just before the August Revolution of 1945, the film tells the poignant love story of Nết (played by People’s Artist Như Quỳnh) and Chi (played by Meritorious Artist Vũ Tự Lẫm).
Due to societal prejudices, they couldn’t be together but eventually reunited when life took a new turn.
The film succeeded artistically and delivered immense cultural value by incorporating quan họ folk songs into cinema.
At the 3rd Vietnam Film Festival in 1975, Den Hen Lai Len won the Golden Lotus Award for Best Feature Film. Actress Như Quỳnh received the Golden Lotus for Best Actress. The film also garnered two additional Golden Lotus Awards for Best Director and Best Cinematography.
A year later, Den Hen Lai Len received the Grand Prize at the 1976 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
Actress Như Quỳnh and actor Vũ Tự Lẫm in Den Hen Lai Len (Screenshot).
Reflecting on his career, Meritorious Artist Vũ Tự Lẫm shared that Den Hen Lai Len was a pivotal moment in his life. Before entering cinema, he mainly worked in theater, particularly performing quan họ.
Thus, while filming, he felt anxious, having no prior acting experience despite six months of basic training. He never imagined taking on such a significant role as the male lead.
The role of “Lien Anh” Hai Chi marked Vũ Tự Lẫm’s debut in cinema.
As for People’s Artist Như Quỳnh, after Den Hen Lai Len, she achieved further success in her film career. Her subsequent films, such as When Will It Be October?, The Sleepwalker, and Hanoi Winter 1946…, were critically acclaimed. However, Den Hen Lai Len remains an unforgettable memory.
Even after half a century, Den Hen Lai Len still resonates and stands as an immortal work beloved by cinema enthusiasts.
The reunion of People’s Artist Như Quỳnh and Meritorious Artist Vũ Tự Lẫm holds not only personal significance but also serves as an important milestone, evoking memories of Vietnam’s glorious cinematic era.
