Gen Z and the journey to find history through the screen

Long lines of young audiences waiting to see the movie “Red Rain” at Beta Cinemas (Hac Thanh ward).

It has been more than half a month since the movie “Red Rain” officially premiered in theaters, but cinemas in Thanh Hoa are always in a state of “sold out”, most viewers have to book 3-4 days in advance. Becoming the highest-grossing Vietnamese film of all time. Ms. Hoang Thi Phuong, manager of Beta Cinemas (Hac Thanh ward), said: “In fact, for more than a year, every time a revolutionary film is released, the number of young audiences coming to the theater has always increased dramatically. Particularly with the movie “Red Rain”, although the screenings are continuous from 8am to 11pm, with a new screening every 45 minutes, the theater is always full. These are really welcome changes, because in the past, this genre of film often had difficulty competing with foreign entertainment films and blockbusters. Young people go to the theater not only to watch movies, but also to learn about history through a new, vivid approach”.

Previously, revolutionary films such as “Dao, Pho and Piano” or “Tunnel: Sun in the Dark” also created a box office fever, with the majority of the audience being young people. This is really a positive signal, when revolutionary films are considered to be selective in audience, not really reaching the majority of young people. Creating that attraction, partly comes from the clear innovation of revolutionary films in the way of conveying content. Not recreating history in a dry way, filmmakers have cleverly integrated into the work everyday elements of love, friendship, comradeship... These close stories help the audience, especially young people, easily sympathize, perceive history through an emotional lens. However, what keeps them sitting for more than 100 minutes of the film and creates the phenomenon of “sold-out tickets”, according to many experts, is the desire to learn about the history of their ancestors, the desire to discover the origin of the nation. In other words, it is the patriotism and national pride of today's young generation.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thi, a History teacher in Hoang Hoa Commune, commented: “The most valuable thing is that through the language of cinema, history is vividly recreated, easily touching people's hearts. Today's revolutionary films have helped students understand that heroic historical pages are not just distant memories, but have a close connection with today's young generation. When I see my students discussing enthusiastically about a character or an event that took place in a film, even asking teachers about related historical information... I am really happy and believe that this is a good start for the journey of nurturing a love of history."

From the experience in the cinema, many young people have begun their journey to explore history in their own way. They share their feelings on social networks, create discussion groups, read more books, documents, and even organize field trips to revolutionary historical sites, red addresses, and martyrs' cemeteries to better understand the context of the film. From there, for Gen Z, learning about history is not only a learning task, but also becomes a personal choice, associated with emotions and the need to explore through the flow of the nation. This process is creating a new wave, bringing history closer to young people, making them more proud, appreciating the past, and more aware of their responsibility for the present and the future. Nguyen Van Truong, a student of the Faculty of Social Sciences , Hong Duc University, said: “Watching “Red Rain”, I felt the fierceness of war and the great sacrifices of the previous generation. Previously, when studying history in class, many events were just numbers and timelines, but through the film, I saw more clearly the faces, fates, and ideals of specific people. That made me appreciate the past and want to learn more about the resistance war against the US to liberate the South.”

And on the journey to learn about the past, many young people also want to share historical experiences with their loved ones. They went to see the film with their grandparents and parents, considering it a way to show gratitude and connect generations. For them, sitting next to their grandparents and listening to real stories related to war memories after watching the film is a beautiful experience. Those group movie viewings not only evoke memories, but also become an opportunity for young people to understand more deeply the sacrifices of previous generations, and at the same time, for their fathers and elders to feel the love and respect of today's children and grandchildren.

It can be seen that through revolutionary films, Gen Z has another path on the journey of historical discovery: natural, vivid and full of emotions. Revolutionary films not only evoke national pride, but also become a bridge connecting generations, helping young people understand and appreciate the past more. This is also the lasting value that historical and revolutionary films bring, surpassing box office numbers, to contribute to fostering the spiritual foundation for today's young generation.

Article and photos: Van Anh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/gen-z-va-hanh-trinh-tim-ve-lich-su-qua-man-anh-261041.htm