The iconic imagery of the film includes peach blossoms, pho, and piano, each carrying profound meanings connected to Hanoi.
The feature film “Peach, Pho, and Piano” was commissioned by the state with a budget of approximately 20 billion VND. The film was screened for free at the Hanoi International Film Festival in 2022 and the Vietnam Film Festival in 2023. However, it did not receive significant attention at that time.
The actors in the film “Peach, Pho, and Piano”. (Photo: Film Crew).
The film impressively depicts the heroic beauty of the soldiers and people of Hanoi during the tumultuous days of bombs and smoke in the spring of 1947.
The story follows a young lady from an intellectual family (Cao Thi Thuy Linh) who escapes from her family in the countryside to return to her house in Hanoi in search of her beloved piano. There, she unexpectedly reunites with the man she has longed for, a soldier in the Vietnam People’s Army (Doan Quoc Dam), who is on duty in the very old street where her family resides.
With the help of kind-hearted people, the two eventually marry, holding a simple wedding amid the desolation of the streets of Hanoi, at the exact moment of transition between heaven and earth.
With the title “Peach, Pho, and Piano,” audiences can immediately recognize the three symbolic images of the film: peach blossoms, pho, and piano. These images frequently appear throughout the film and are closely tied to the characters.
- Peach blossoms are a New Year’s gift that the soldier bravely fetched from the Nhat Tan peach garden to bring back to the battlefield, hoping to share a bit of the spring atmosphere with his comrades.
- Pho symbolizes the culinary essence of Hanoi and represents the nostalgia of every soldier and citizen, even when they are in the heart of the capital. Pho is also associated with the image of a husband-and-wife pho vendor who stays in Hanoi an extra night to prepare a pot of pho for the revolutionary soldiers.
- The piano represents a love for art, the wish for peace, and the romantic spirit of the people of Hanoi. Despite the harsh conditions, the beauty of culture is still preserved by the capital’s residents.
Mr. Vi Kien Thanh, the Director of the Department of Cinema, believes that the film showcases creative explorations in cinematic language, especially the mark of director Phi Tien Son in creating a film that truly reflects the spirit and temperament of the people of Hanoi during the years 1946-1947. The film also won the Silver Lotus Award at the 23rd Vietnam Film Festival in Da Lat at the end of last year.
