There have been numerous films about the horrors of the Vietnam War, but rarely do they depict it from the viewpoint of the Vietnamese, and perhaps never from the perspective of the country’s underground labyrinth of pathways. This unique film Tunnels: Sun in the Dark had its international premiere on October 31 in the World Focus section of the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival, and director Bui Thac Chuyen and two actors, Ho Thu Anh and Lamoon, were on hand for the Q&A session.
 
Based on an actual historical event, Tunnels: Sun in the Dark depicts a guerrilla resistance team in the Cu Chi district of southern Vietnam, where ordinary citizens fought against the US army, hiding within the extensive tunnel system. An omnibus tale, the film recounts the stories of multiple characters, including a commander who continues the battle while caring for young fighters, a female soldier who falls in love with a mysterious newcomer, and an 18-year-old girl who unexpectedly gets pregnant. Through the combination of these storylines, the tunnels become both a place of community for resistance and a site of suffocation under air raids during one of the most turbulent periods in Vietnamese history.
 
Returning to TIFF after his Glorious Ashes (2022) screened at the 35th edition of the festival, the director seemed happy with the new film’s success in his home country. “Tunnels has actually been seen by many people in Vietnam,” he noted. “It’s been loved by many people. Previously, war movies were not able to draw big audiences but we feel that has changed. After Tunnels, more people are now willing to go and see war movies. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to create a new movement.”
 
During the Q&A, Lamoon, who played the pregnant girl, greeted the audience, telling them, “I’m hoping that this will be an opportunity for all of you to explore Vietnamese movies from many different angles.”
 
Tunnels has been an important project for Bui Thac Chuyen, who came up with the idea more than 10 years ago. According to the director, “In 2014, I had an opportunity to create a short 3D film about the Cu Chi tunnels. That led me to interview people who had fought the war in the Cu Chi tunnels. I was shocked to learn about how they lived, how they fought.”
 
“The more I learned about how the soldiers fought against the invaders from the US, it occurred to me that the battle was a humanitarian war. This was a rare moment even for the world in that it was a fight by the people. What really shocked me the most was that people who were fighting in the tunnels were regular villagers. Villagers had taken up arms to fight. I swore to myself that I would make a movie on this theme.”
 
Production involved shooting in tunnels, rivers, and on land, making it a tough shoot for everyone involved.
 
“The scene where the tunnels are flooded was especially hard,” said Anh, who played one of the female fighters, “Because the tunnels were such a small space, we didn’t have enough room for the crew to be with us during the scene. Lamoon and I were in the scene together and we actually had to take the light fixture and shine the light on each other while we were both acting.”
 
The director emphasized that despite the political nature of the film, his message is nothing but a plea for peace: “It’s history. It’s in the past. We shouldn’t focus on the view of war as being between us and them, or even about revenge. War is about how people did what they needed to in order to survive. And now that the war is over, it’s necessary to forgive. By forgiving, we can all accept peace.”
 
Q&A Session: World Focus
Tunnels: Sun in the Dark
Guests: Bui Thac Chuyen (Director), Ho Thu Anh (Actor), Lamoon (Actor)