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The movie “Air Deathmatch”, a special project produced by People's Police Cinema in collaboration with Galaxy Group, has officially launched, bringing to the audience a dramatic action story inspired by the real hijacking incident in 1978.
Directed by Le Nhat Quang (Ham Tran), the film recreates the DC-4/501 flight carrying more than 60 passengers from Da Nang to Buon Ma Thuot, which was hijacked by four armed hijackers just minutes after takeoff. During the 52 life-and-death minutes, both the crew and passengers faced danger and the reckless hijackers, leaving a tragic mark in the history of Vietnamese aviation.
"Air Deathmatch" was inspired by a real hijacking in Vietnam in 1978.
Air Deathmatch is inspired by real events in Vietnam in 1978, not long after the country was completely liberated.
According to director Ham Tran, the plane scene in the film was restored from a real plane, combined with CGI (image simulation technology), but most of the filming set was rebuilt in real proportion. The producer invested in a model of the same size plane, with interior and gyroscopic roller system to create realistic shaking effects. In this space, the cast took turns practicing and performing many action scenes themselves without the need for stuntmen, bringing the best immersive experience with dramatic, vivid footage without overusing special effects.
Flight DC-4/501 from Da Nang to Buon Ma Thuot was hijacked by a group of armed hijackers just minutes after departure, putting 60 passengers and the entire crew in a 52-minute predicament.
The battle of wits and the mysterious pieces
Right from the first shots, "Fight to Death in the Sky" established a tense and dramatic atmosphere. Opening with cheerful music from the years after 1975, flight HVN 602 seemed to be promising a peaceful journey, where the passengers, including guard Binh (Thanh Son), who was on his way to welcome his unborn child, were all full of hope. But in the blink of an eye, the moment the indicator light turned on became the opening signal for a series of chaotic events. A group of hijackers led by Long (Thai Hoa), along with Ti (Vo Dien Gia Huy), Dan (Ray Nguyen) and Suu (Bao Dinh), spread terror on the plane.
This was a hijacking that shook the history of Vietnamese aviation, leaving many physical injuries and mental trauma for the survivors.
The tension of the film comes not only from the intense action scenes, but also from the subtle mysteries. Each character has their own story, an unrevealed secret. From the pensive eyes, the bewildered expression, the knife hidden in the sleeve to the meaningful handshake between the two passengers, all suggest a complex conspiracy. The film not only explores the struggle between good and evil, but also delves into the psychology of both sides. The detail of Long advising his accomplice: "If you want to change your life, you have to fight" reveals the hidden motive behind their brutality.
The theme of hijacking a plane is familiar to movie-loving audiences and has appeared in a series of international films, but this is still a fairly new story on the Vietnamese big screen as no filmmaker has chosen to exploit it.
A brilliant cast and a profound humanistic message
The film brings together a talented cast, from box office guarantees like Thai Hoa, Kaity Nguyen to promising young actors like Thanh Son, Vo Dien Gia Huy, Tran Ngoc Vang, Ma Ran Do, Loi Tran, Tram Anh, Xuan Van... Although only appearing in short scenes, each character leaves a deep impression.
At this time, the domestic aviation industry scene of the early years when the country was just unified, gradually sketched before the audience's eyes. The airport security processes and procedures at that time were still rudimentary and lax, unintentionally creating loopholes for bad guys to take advantage of.
The contrast between the two fronts was clearly shown through the acting of Thai Hoa and Kaity Nguyen. While Thai Hoa transformed into Long "thót" with cold, cruel and complex eyes, Kaity Nguyen expressed the extreme fear of flight attendant Trinh. However, despite their fear, the two flight attendants in traditional ao dai still showed their determination and were not easily subdued. The touching scene when Trinh said in tears: "No matter what happens to me, no matter what you hear, don't open the door!" showed the bravery and willingness to sacrifice of the flight crew.
Ham Tran cleverly brings the appetizer, activating the suspense in the audience very early, before leading them to set foot on the fateful flight where the main events of the film take place.
"Air Deathmatch" is not just an action movie. Through the reenactment of a little-known historical event, the film also depicts the brave spirit and indomitable will of Vietnamese aviation security soldiers in their mission to protect human lives and the sky of the Fatherland. Major General Do Trieu Phong, Director of the People's Public Security Communications Department, affirmed that the release of the film on the important 80-year milestone of the Country is a way to pay tribute to previous generations who created values for today's generation to follow.
The film's pace is fast, focusing on increasing the drama with a series of sensational details continuously appearing, "pumping adrenaline" into the audience. Fear is awakened in the narrow space of a civil aircraft.
The film, with its thrilling rhythm, eye-catching action scenes and well-rounded acting from the cast, promises to bring an engaging and meaningful cinematic experience. For the first time, a real-life plane hijacking is recreated on the big screen, not only for entertainment but also to tell a story about the courage, sacrifice, and heroism of ordinary people in a life-or-death battle in the sky.
