Crew on location to shoot movie of My Lai massacre

QUANG NGAI — A film crew headed by veteran director Le Dan is ready to start shooting a war film for overseas release on location in the central province of Quang Ngai’s Son My Village.

The film, Nhung Buc Thu Tu Son My (Letters from Son My), whose first scenes were shot on Christmas eve in HCM City, will have a 500-strong cast to play the villagers who were murdered by the US forces in the infamous My Lai massacre during the American War.

Some of the scenes of the 120 minute feature which is based on a true story have already been shot at Cu Chi Tunnel and a pagoda in Hoc Mon on the outskirts of HCM City. The filmscript, which aims to send a message of peace and love to the world, tells how Vietnamese people suffered from the war, how an American war veteran becomes plagued with guilt over his role in the massacre and how the Vietnamese people forgive him and his country.

The storyline follows American War veteran William Calley, who had participated in 1968’s massacre in the Son My Village, as he makes a trip back to Viet Nam.

The film will be one of this year’s most important films, Le Dan, the film director said adding that he was looking for funding of VND6 billion (US$300,000).

Dan is the CEO of the UNESCO Cinema and Multimedia Centre.

Nguyen Duc Dat or Quang Dat, who is doing the set design, has donated a guitar used by late musician Trinh Cong Son to auction to help raise the money.

The finished product will be sent to Cannes Film Festival 2010 before being screened in Viet Nam on the occasion of the 1,000 anniversary of capital Ha Noi. All of the money collected from the film will be donated to the Viet Nam Association of Victims of Agent Orange, Dan said.

“After nearly half a century, Calley has said sorry for his crimes. I felt that it would be much better for the film if he apologised in person to the Son My villagers.”

Nhung Buc Thu Tu Son My is about Calley’s repentance, Dan said, adding that it wasn’t meant to be a historical account.

He said he hoped the film would help to prevent another “My Lai Massacre” elsewhere in the world.

A friend of his from the Cannes festival was excited about the project, he said. “Every body is waiting for the film.”

The film will open with the 2007 meeting of President Nguyen Minh Triet and US President George W Bush, that triggers William Calley’s memory and feelings of guilt and remorse.

Calley then decides to return to HCM City for Christmas and travel to Quang Ngai. On the trip the guilt ridden Calley, who has been given the name Peter Cage in the script, discovers his soul and the meaning of forgiveness.

During the time he is in Viet Nam, the veteran writes letters to his wife telling about his feelings and impressions when he comes back to Son My.

The 82-year-old director said the film would be one of the most important works of his career.

An additional, 20-minute documentary film about the making of Nhung Buc Thu Tu Son My will be made at the same time. The short film includes interviews with American veteran soldiers. — VNS