Musical featuring the Spratlys to be aired

Vietnam Television will broadcast on August 4 a musical dedicated to the Truong Sa (Spratlys) Archipelago, featuring many never-before-seen images of the islands.

The movie depicts the love and pride of the soldiers in protecting the territorial waters of the Motherland and the touching story of the sacrifices of the soldiers and their families.

The soundtrack of the movie consists of eight remastered popular songs suitable for the feelings, emotions, and thoughts of the marines as well as the women in the rear.

Singer Khanh Hoa performs with the symphony orchestra on the Yet Kieu Ship. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Television

The film features the lead singer - Meritorious Artist Khanh Hoa, and a cast of celebrities, including journalist and diplomat Dinh Quang Tien, People's Artist Manh Cuong, Meritorious Artist Minh Phuong, actors Tien Loc, Huyen Thach, Binh An and others.

Singer Khanh Hoa has visited the Spratly Islands eight times, and this sacred land has become the greatest and deepest love of her life.

"The archipelago nourishes and deepens my feelings every time I visit. The atmosphere and people of Truong Sa make me very happy. I always feel very proud and patriotic when I interact and work with the military and people here," she said.

Many nights after Khanh Hoa had the idea to produce a musical about Truong Sa, she could not sleep because every detail of the stories, memories, and pictures of Truong Sa from each trip came back to her.

Since Truong Sa has always been near and dear to her heart, she put a lot of time and attention into writing the screenplay for the film. 

Singer Khanh Hoa and young marines. Photo courtesy of the artist

Speaking at the movie premiere, Rear Admiral Pham Van Luyen, Deputy Chief of Political Affairs of the Navy, said that this musical has a profound humanistic value, expressing love for the country and the sea and islands of the homeland. The movie has boosted the national sense of pride and self-esteem, encouraged the brave fighting spirit of the officers and troops of the Vietnamese People's Navy, and strengthened the determination of the army and the people to firmly defend the sovereignty of the sea and the islands of the Fatherland.

This is the biggest musical film project ever made by Vietnam Television.

Filming took over a month and the musical was shot on the mainland, in military zones, in the bay, on the sea, and on many islands in the Truong Sa archipelago.

Vietnam Television sent three experienced directors to make the film: Chief Director Phu Tran, Deputy Director Nguyen Sy Khoa and the Director of Photography Trinh Minh Tuan.

The program received enthusiastic support from the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army, the Navy, and the Thang Long Music and Dance Theater. In particular, the Navy provided planes and ships and sent about 1,000 people from many units to help the film crew complete the mission.