War Epic ‘Red Rain’ Named Vietnam’s Oscar Entry

Vietnam has selected war epic “Red Rain” (Mưa Đỏ) as its submission for the best international feature film category at the 98th Academy Awards.

Directed by Đặng Thái Huyền and co-written with novelist Chu Lai, the picture dramatizes the 81-day defense of the Quảng Trị Citadel in 1972, one of the most decisive battles of the Vietnam War. The story follows a squad of North Vietnamese soldiers as they endure relentless bombardment and mounting losses, while confronting their own fears and divisions.

Since its release earlier this year, “Red Rain” has become a box office sensation in Vietnam. The film has earned more than VND714 billion ($28 million) and sold over 8.1 million tickets, making it the highest-grossing Vietnamese movie of all time.

The large-scale production featured a 50-hectare battlefield set and involved months of preparation across multiple provinces. Multi-camera systems were used to capture expansive battle scenes, while extensive practical effects and CGI were deployed to recreate the scale of the conflict.

“Red Rain” arrives at the Oscars as Vietnam’s latest attempt to break through in the international feature category. The country has submitted entries regularly since 1993, but none have secured a nomination to date. Recent submissions include “Father and Son” (2017), “Dreamy Eyes” (2020) and “Glorious Ashes” (2023). The country’s first ever submission, Trần Anh Hùng’s “The Scent of Green Papaya,” secured a nomination in 1993.

The Oscar international feature shortlist will be announced on Dec. 16 and the final five nominees will be announced on Jan. 22.