When young people tell the story of Hue tuong through the language of cinema

Behind the scenes of the film production process

Keeping the drumbeat of tuong “awake”

HueMinds is a team of five fourth-year female students, majoring in Multimedia Communications at the International School, Hue University, including: To Nguyen Ngoc Bich, Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, Nguyen Tran Binh Nguyen, Doan Thi Khanh Nhi, and Huynh Thi Tuyet Trang.

While searching for a topic for their project, the team initially considered the ao dai, cuisine, or the royal tomb system. However, they realized that those elements remain vibrant and highly visible, whereas Hue tuong - once the “national drama” and the pinnacle of royal court performance - has become increasingly unfamiliar to the younger generation.

To Nguyen Ngoc Bich, a team member, shared: “Before starting the project, all of us viewed tuong as something highly academic and rather distant. Many young people find it difficult to understand and connect with.” It was precisely this reality that inspired the team to choose Hue tuong as the subject matter of their project.

To immerse themselves in the world of tuong, HueMinds spent more than a month conducting research and fieldwork. Through visits to ancient houses in Kim Long, the Hue Singing Drama Theater, and the Duyet Thi Duong Theater, their love for this traditional art form grew deeper.

The team also had the opportunity to meet Meritorious Artist La Thanh Hung, and Meritorious Artist Ngo The Tue. Ngoc Bich recalled: “The more we spoke with the artists, the more we realized that behind the elaborate makeup were passionate individuals, who take great pride in their profession while carrying a deep concern about the lack of a successor generation”.

One of the most poignant moments for the team was when they stood before the desolate Thanh Binh Tu Duong, the ancestral temple of tuong art. It was that lingering concern that strengthened their determination to complete the film. “Each member of the team hopes that the cinematic lens of ‘Trong Thuc’ could capture the glory that once defined tuong. We hope it can make a small contribution to sparking new inspiration in tuong today and in the future,” said Ngoc Bich.

“Trong Thuc” is a combination of “Trong”, the drumbeats of tuong performances, and “Thuc”, representing the awakening and continuation of those traditional cultural values.

Spreading heritage through cinema

The impact of “Trong Thuc” lies not only in choosing Hue tuong as its subject matter, but also in how it utilizes modern cinematic language to make tuong feel authentic and accessible to younger audiences.

Guided by this mindset, visual elements in the film were treated as a storytelling layer. Two contrasting color palettes run throughout the film: the warm reds and yellows of the Duyet Thi Duong recall the golden age of court theater, contrasting sharply with the deep and cold blue tones of the present, which express the solitude and struggles of those quietly preserving the art form. The film’s pacing was also tailored to the viewing habits of the youth, using dynamic editing techniques combined with an epic and powerful soundtrack.

These efforts yielded unexpected success. The film's social media campaign reached nearly 40,000 views, receiving many positive feedback from both audiences and experts alike.

Mr. Le Ba Cang, the team’s project supervisor, remarked: “What impressed me most about ‘Trong Thuc’ is that despite budget and equipment limitations, they managed to create an emotionally resonant short film that conveys the spirit of passing on artistic passion across generations. Choosing cultural heritage as the film's subject matter serves as an artistic communication solution, helping to raise community awareness of historical values and cultural identity, while connecting heritage with the contemporary public.”