Organizing a cultural event with depth cannot be without historical elements. It's not only a source of emotional inspiration but also a foundation for fostering pride, gratitude, and responsibility in today's generation towards the past. However, for history to truly shine in an event, its recreation must be based on accurate understanding, correct execution, and respectful storytelling. Join us as we listen to the insights shared by General Director Le Hai Yen on incorporating historical elements into the 2024 musical "Legendary Train Journey." Newday Media's What's Behind podcast series.
The combination of artistic merit and factual accuracy presented a challenging intellectual battle for the production team.
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Integrating historical elements must first be done correctly.
Making history in the context of events is not simply about creating a nostalgic atmosphere or dogmatically recounting key milestones. The core principle is...I did it right – both in terms of facts and spirit. Recreating history is not a playground of imagination, but a rigorous process that requires the team to responsibly cross-reference documents, conduct on-site surveys, and most importantly, listen to and learn from historical witnesses.
This is why cultural events that aim to touch the emotional depth of the audience, especially young people, need to rely on authentic documentation, respect living witnesses, and convey history in a creative way without distorting the truth. History should not be romanticized arbitrarily, nor should it become a tool for superficial display that fails to reflect the true nature of a period.
A journey through history: The story from the River Festival team.
To accurately and authentically incorporate historical elements into the cultural event, the Ho Chi Minh City River Festival organizing team spent a considerable amount of time conducting on-site surveys along the historical route, from the Sac Forest to the Ba Son shipyard – famous historical landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City. Beyond simply researching documents, the team also directly interviewed veterans who had fought in the mangrove forests in the past.
General director Hai Yen shared: “I used to have a rather romantic and unrealistic imagination about war. Reading books like 'A Time in the Sac Forest' or 'Letters from the War,' I pictured soldiers writing letters to their wives. But when I spoke with former special forces soldiers, they shared that they didn't have the time or resources to write letters. While facing the American enemy and crocodiles simultaneously, in conditions of scarcity and danger – no one thought about personal feelings at that moment.‘.
That very experience led the director and crew to struggle with the dilemma between artistic merit and historical accuracy. As a result, the scene of the soldier writing the letter – as an emotional anchor – is still present on stage, but it is juxtaposed with brutal real-life images to create a powerful contrast, helping the audience understand that all private emotions are intensely tested in the context of war.
When dramatization softens the brutality – but doesn't diminish the truth. history
A unique aspect of theatrical art is its ability to transform pain and harsh realities into evocative, emotionally rich imagery without being overly dry or melodramatic.
This theatrical portrayal of history does not diminish its seriousness or core values. On the contrary, it makes history feel closer and more accessible to viewers – especially young people – and therefore easier to remember. As a result, values such as gratitude, national pride, and respect for the past are naturally and spontaneously evoked.
The scene depicting President Ho Chi Minh's departure to find a way to save the country was dramatized in a very moving way.
Listen to more behind-the-scenes stories in the What's Behind podcast.
To better understand this emotional process, you can listen to the podcast episode. What's Behind Featuring the direct participation of General Director Hai Yen, this podcast shares valuable details, memorable encounters, and the creative process of blending real events and emotions that need to be told. This unique podcast is now available on the channel. YouTube and Spotify.
History needs to be retold with respect and creativity.
When organizing cultural events, incorporating history is not for decoration but to touch the deepest parts of each individual. It is the responsibility of those in the profession to both uphold the historical spirit and guide the audience's emotions through subtle artistic language.
If you want young people to be grateful, let them experience it. If you want audiences to remember it forever, recount the past with genuine emotion and in a creative way. Then, history will not just be something of the past, but a living material for the present, adding faith and inspiration for the future.
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