(VOVworld) – The Vietnam Union Literature and Arts Associations presented awards to winning works of a contest on the revolutionary and resistance wars from 1930 to 1975. 80 prize-winning works of literature, cinematography, music, theater, dance, and painting categories have reflected the topic’s inspirational value to artists. They revealed that although the wars are over, the wounds and torments have not yet healed.


Writer Tram Huong
“Leaves, before falling off, had their life and love. Human beings are the same. Every single life and fate is a story that can’t be forgotten.” Writer Tram Huong talked about her novel “In a whirlwind”, which won first prize in this year’s contest. Huong, who is Head of the Communications Office of the Southern Women’s Museum, said her novel was inspired by the love story of a mixed-blood girl, the daughter of a French official, and a poor Vietnamese boy in 1945. They were deeply in love but had to part when the August Revolution broke out. Huong says: “It took me 10 years to write the 1000-page novel. When I finished writing, I was as happy as if I had paid off a debt. The book’s publication was my reward. I didn’t think I would win a prize.”

In “In a whirlwind”, Tram Huong describes a war of life and death from many aspects. It’s not only a military war, but a struggle of the innermost feelings of two people who had to make a lifetime choice. Tears and silent sacrifice too a back seat to revolutionary ideals and duties. Huong says she portrayed the main female character, her reminiscence of her love, and the bitterness, loss, and separation she experienced during the wars as a tribute to people, particular women, who sacrificed and suffered.


A scene in the dance drama “Immortal moment”

Choreographer Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, a woman born and raised in peace time, revived the image of heroic Vo Thi Sau in a dance drama called “Immortal moment”. The drama depicts the staunch will and heroic sacrifice of Vo Thi Sau, a female police officer, who motivated revolutionaries in wartime.


Vo Thi Sau and her comrades


Artist Tuyet Minh said choreography is more difficult to understand than other performing arts. Images of the pine trees of Con Dao are used as the main backdrop of the drama. “I arrange the pine trees horizontally, vertically, and diagonally symbolizing prison iron bars. Sometimes, the pine trees are dropped from the ceiling to suggest heaven, dreams, and the fighting spirit of imprisoned revolutionaries.”

The authors of “In the whirlwind” and the dance drama “Immortal moment” were born in two different historical periods and have different views of war, but they have both dedicated their artistic talent to humanitarian views.