Unveiling the Most Memorable Hand-Burning Scene in “Noisy Winds”
Nearly six decades have passed, yet whenever “Noisy Winds” is mentioned, viewers are still moved by the image of the steadfast female soldier with steely eyes and the dramatic scene of her burning all ten fingers, alongside the powerful performance of the late NSND Thuy Van.
This shocking hand-burning scene isn’t just a depiction of the enemy’s brutality; it’s also a symbol of the unwavering spirit and indomitable will of the revolutionary soldier.
NSND Thuy Van in the scene where she burns her ten fingers in the film “Noisy Winds” (Image: Screenshot).
As the cold iron tongs clamped down on her fingers, and the merciless flames licked at her flesh, Ms. Van, played by NSND Thuy Van, maintained unwavering strength in her gaze.
Even in that moment of excruciating pain, she proactively ignited the remaining fingers, a breathtaking act of defiance that instilled awe and an enduring sense of unease in the viewers.
On April 12th, the program Cine7 – Vietnamese Cinema Memories aired, once again evoking powerful emotions about this film, while revealing fascinating and touching behind-the-scenes stories about the process of “making war films.”
Especially, the sharing of insights from TS. Ngo Anh Dao, the daughter of NSND Thuy Van, provided genuine and profound perspectives on the film’s most iconic hand-burning scene.
According to TS. Ngo Anh Dao, the scene depicting Ms. Van being tortured by the enemy by burning all ten fingers was a specific requirement from director Huy Thanh.
Ms. Anh Dao revealed, “Director Huy Thanh requested this scene be filmed only once, without rehearsal, to maintain the authenticity of the emotion.”
This not only reflects the director’s intent to portray the harsh reality and authenticity but also presents a considerable challenge for NSND Thuy Van.
TS. Ngo Anh Dao explained that, to create a realistic cinematic effect, the makeup artists used a special method. Ms. Van’s hands were wrapped in bandages, plastered with plaster of Paris, and burned externally. A crew member stood by with a bucket of water to extinguish the flames immediately after the director shouted “Cut.”
“When I asked, ‘Were you scared, Mom?’ She said, ‘No, in that moment, I was Ms. Van.’ This answer shows how fully my mother immersed herself in the role, regardless of the danger,” shared Anh Dao.
The behind-the-scenes work on war films was also highlighted in the program.
Shot at the Quy Cao farm in Hai Phong, a place where many Southern Vietnamese refugees had gathered, “Noisy Winds” was made with the unity of the local people.
Everyone contributed to building the setting, from the thatched houses, makeshift bridges, to the chairs and tea sets in the houses. Thus, a rural scene from Ben Tre emerged in Hai Phong. The film’s main actors, including the late NSND Thuy Van and the late NSND The Anh (playing Lieutenant Phuong), spent months in Quy Cao experiencing the lives of the Ben Tre people.
Artist Thu Hang, the wife of the late NSND The Anh, shared that director Huy Thanh had discarded 400 meters of film because he couldn’t find a suitable actor for the role of Lieutenant Phuong. It was only when he met NSND The Anh that he was truly satisfied.
Lieutenant Phuong’s character later became a defining role, forever associated with the late NSND The Anh in the hearts of many generations of viewers.
TS. Ngo Phuong Lan (left) and TS. Ngo Anh Dao (middle) shared their insights in the “Cine – Vietnamese Cinema Memories” program (Image: VTV).
Marking 50 Years of National Reunification, Re-watching “Noisy Winds” in Remembrance of NSND Thuy Van
During this historic April, as the nation commemorates the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30th), watching classic revolutionary war films like “Noisy Winds” becomes even more meaningful.
On the Cine – Vietnamese Cinema Memories program, film critic, TS. Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairman of the Vietnamese Film Development Promotion Association, shared insightful opinions on the film.
She commented, “Noisy Winds’ successfully embodies the distinctive ‘feminine’ aspect of Vietnamese cinema. Ms. Van’s character represents not only love and sacrifice but also resilience and overcoming hardship, reflecting the virtues of Vietnamese women during wartime.”
Despite being from the North, NSND Thuy Van brilliantly portrayed a woman from Ben Tre, evoking memories of the “army of long-haired women” of General Nguyen Thi Dinh.
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