STATEMENT ON THE FILM “RED RAIN” (MƯA ĐỎ)BY THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM — A DISTORTION OF HISTORY
To:
- Director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)
- Fellow Vietnamese at home and abroad
I. BACKGROUND
The communist government of Vietnam has recently released the motion picture “Red Rain” (Mưa Đỏ), widely promoted as the most successful film in the history of Vietnamese cinema, and now officially submitted as Vietnam’s entry for the Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Academy Awards (Oscars).
The movie is said to be adapted from the war novel of the same name by Chu Lai, depicting the Battle of Quảng Trị in 1972. However, it contains numerous fictionalized and falsified depictions of history, misleading young Vietnamese audiences and international viewers about the true nature of the Vietnam War.
Although presented as a “fictional drama,” the film’s settings, characters, and storyline are all based on real events in South Vietnam’s battlefields, and it is produced by the People’s Army Film Studio, clearly serving propaganda purposes for the communist regime — a regime notorious for distorting historical truth to justify its dictatorial rule.
II. MAJOR HISTORICAL FALSEHOODS IN THE FILM
- False portrayal of the Battle of Quảng Trị (1972)
Both witnesses from the former Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces (RVN) and veterans of the North Vietnamese Army have confirmed that no major battle took place inside the ancient citadel of Quảng Trị, as shown in the film. The real fighting occurred in the city and surrounding areas, not within the citadel walls. The film’s portrayal is therefore a gross distortion of historical fact. - Fabricated scenes of torture and brutality by South Vietnamese troops
The movie depicts South Vietnamese soldiers pouring gasoline on and burning captured North Vietnamese prisoners, an act that never occurred. Numerous eyewitnesses have testified that no such atrocities were committed by RVN forces. This fabricated scene is a malicious insult to the honor of the South Vietnamese military. - False implication about the Paris Peace Accords and troop withdrawal
The film suggests that the withdrawal from Quảng Trị resulted from the signing of the Paris Peace Accords (1973). In fact, North Vietnamese troops retreated in September 1972, after the South Vietnamese Marines recaptured the citadel on September 15, 1972, several months before the accords were signed (January 27, 1973). - Deliberate omission of the “Highway of Horror” massacre
The film completely ignores the horrific “Highway of Horror” massacre, when North Vietnamese artillery (133mm guns of Regiment 38) fired indiscriminately on thousands of civilians fleeing southward along Highway 1, killing and wounding thousands of innocent people. It remains one of the bloodiest war crimes of the conflict — but was erased from the movie’s narrative.
III. CONCLUSION AND APPEAL
Beyond artistic expression, any responsible film must respect historical truth and refrain from promoting political propaganda or hatred.
Red Rain has violated these principles by spreading falsehood, division, and ideological bias.
We therefore state:
- “Red Rain” is a propaganda film serving the communist dictatorship of Vietnam, which continues to suppress freedom of speech and artistic expression.
- “Red Rain” distorts historical truth, instilling hatred and false understanding among Vietnamese youth, and misleading international audiences about Vietnam’s history.
- Produced by the People’s Army of Vietnam, Red Rain lacks the ethical and moral integrity required of films competing at international festivals such as the Academy Awards (Oscars).
We urge the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the international film community to reject this submission and uphold the values of truth, artistic integrity, and human dignity in global cinema.
Respectfully,
October 12, 2025
On behalf of the United Council of Vietnamese in Homeland and Overseas
- Domestic Representative: Venerable Thích Không Tánh
- Overseas Representative: Dr. Võ Đình Hữu (714-928-3038)
- Secretary-General: Dr. Đỗ Văn Hội
Việt ngữ
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