Subtitle: ENG

[ Đại Chiến Cô Dâu ] – Phim Việt Nam 2011

A man died and because he had been a good person, he went to Heaven, where Saint Peter greeted him at the door.
Welcome! he said. You can enter Heaven right away, but, because you lived such a good life, you can also go and check out Hell first, if you like.
The man was rather curious and said – well, why not – and he went down all the stairs to reach the door of Hell, which opened before him.
Behind the door, he saw many people sitting around tables with delicious food! But they were all very sad, and suffering, because instead of hands they had long knives and forks as arm extensions and they did not manage to put any of this great food in their mouths.
The man went back up to Heaven and said to Saint Peter: Wow, am I glad that I can go to Heaven. That is really some punishment.
Welcome to Heaven, Saint Peter said, as he let the man in.
What did he see there? He saw many people sitting around tables with delicious food, just like in Hell!
And just like in Hell, they also had these long fork and knive extensions on their arms!
But in Heaven, the people weren’t crying or cursing, because they were sticking the food in each other’s mouths! “Try this”, they laughed. “And this!”, and they had lots of fun in the process.

Lesson: Happiness comes from making other people happy. Don’t be selfish but care for other people, and you will be taken care of as well.

2. Maybe. A Chinese story, kind of a Taoistic story about a philosophic farmer.

One day, the farmer’s horse ran away, and all the neighbors gathered in the evening and said ‘that’s too bad.’
He said ‘maybe.’
Next day, the horse came back and brought with it seven wild horses. ‘Wow!’ they said, ‘Aren’t you lucky!’
He said ‘maybe.’
The next day, his son grappled with one of these wild horses and tried to break it in, and he got thrown and broke his leg. And all the neighbors said ‘oh, that’s too bad that your son broke his leg.’
He said, ‘maybe.’ The next day, the conscription officers came around, gathering young men for the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. And the visitors all came around and said ‘Isn’t that great! Your son got out.’
He said, ‘maybe.’

Lesson: you never really know in which direction progress lies. Life unfolds not always as we expect it to.

3. A Message from Mrs. Leonard
By Mary Ann Bird

I grew up knowing I was different, and I hated it. I was born with a cleft palate, and when I started to go to school, my classmates-who were constantly teasing– made it clear to me how I must look to others: a little girl with a misshapen lip, crooked nose, lopsided teeth, and hollow and somewhat garbled speech. I couldn’t even blow up a balloon without holding my nose, and when I bent to drink from a fountain, the water spilled out of my nose.

When my schoolmates asked, “What happened to your lip?” I’d tell them that I’d fallen as a baby and cut it on a piece of glass. Somehow it seemed more acceptable to have suffered an accident than to have been born different. By the age of seven I was convinced that no one outside my own family could ever love me. Or even like me.

And then I entered the second grade, and Mrs. Leonard’s class. I never knew what her first name was — just Mrs. Leonard. She was round and pretty and fragrant, with chubby arms and shining brown hair and warm dark eyes that smiled even on the rare occasions when her mouth didn’t. Everyone adored her. But no one came to love her more than I did. And for a special reason.

The time came for the annual “hearing tests” given at our school. I was barely able to hear anything out of one ear, and was not about to reveal yet another problem that would single me out as different. And so I cheated. I had learned to watch other children and raised my hand when they did during group testing. The “whisper test” however, required a different kind of deception: Each child would go to the door of the classroom, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger, and the teacher would whisper something from her desk, which the child would repeat. Then the same thing was done for the other ear. I had discovered in kindergarten that nobody checked to see how tightly the untested ear was being covered, so I merely pretended to block mine.

As usual, I was last, but all through the testing I wondered what Mrs. Leonard might say to me. I knew from previous years that she whispered things like “The sky is blue” or “Do you have new shoes?”

My turn came up. I turned my bad ear to her plugging up the other solidly with my finger, then gently backed my finger out enough to be able to hear. I waited and then the words that God had surely put into her mouth, seven words that changed my life forever.
Mrs. Leonard, the pretty, fragrant teacher I adored, said softly, “I wish you were my little girl.”

Lesson: Love heals. A small expression of love goes a very long ways.

4. The travelling monks at the river

Two traveling monks reached a river where they met a young woman. Wary of the current, she asked if they could carry her across. One of the monks hesitated, but the other quickly picked her up onto his shoulders, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other bank. She thanked him and departed.

As the monks continued on their way, the one was brooding and preoccupied. Unable to hold his silence, he spoke out. “Brother, our spiritual training teaches us to avoid any contact with women, but you picked that one up on your shoulders and carried her!”

“Brother,” the second monk replied, “I set her down on the other side, while you are still carrying her.”

Lesson: The practice of one’s belief is more important than rigid adherence to a belief in one’s practice.

5. Two seeds

Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile soil.

The first seed said, “I want to grow! I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth’s crust above me … I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring … I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!”

And so she grew…

The second seed said, “Hmmmm. If I send my roots into the ground below, I don’t know what I will encounter in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me I may damage my delicate sprouts … what if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them? And if I were to open my blossoms, a small child may pull me from the ground. No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.”

And so she waited…

A yard hen scratching around in the early spring ground for food found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.

Lesson: Seize the day!

6. The stonecutter

There was once a stonecutter who was dissatisfied with himself and with his position in life.

One day, he passed a wealthy merchant’s house and through the open gateway saw many fine possessions and important visitors. “How powerful that merchant must be!” thought the stonecutter. He became very envious, and wished that he could be like the merchant. Then he would no longer have to live the life of a mere stonecutter.

To his great surprise, he suddenly became the merchant, enjoying more luxuries and power than he had ever dreamed of, envied and detested by those less wealthy than himself. But soon a high official passed by, carried in a sedan chair, accompanied by attendants, and escorted by soldiers beating gongs. Everyone, no matter how wealthy, had to bow low before the procession. “How powerful that official is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be a high official!”

Then he became the high official, carried everywhere in his embroidered sedan chair, feared and hated by the people all around, who had to bow down before him as he passed. It was a hot summer day, and the official felt very uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair. He looked up at the sun. It shone proudly in the sky, unaffected by his presence. “How powerful the sun is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be the sun!”

Then he became the sun, shining fiercely down on everyone, scorching the fields, cursed by the farmers and labourers. But a huge black cloud moved between him and the earth, so that his light could no longer shine on everything below. “How powerful that storm cloud is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be a cloud!”

Then he became the cloud, flooding the fields and villages, shouted at by everyone. But soon he found that he was being pushed away by some great force, and realized that it was the wind. “How powerful it is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be the wind!”

Then he became the wind, blowing tiles off the roofs of houses, uprooting trees, hated and feared by all below him. But after a while, he ran up against something that would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew against it — a huge, towering stone. “How powerful that stone is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be a stone!”

Then he became the stone, more powerful than anything else on earth. But as he stood there, he heard the sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the solid rock and felt himself being changed. “What could be more powerful than I, the stone?” he thought. He looked down and saw far below him the figure of a stonecutter.

(Benjamin Hoff from The Tao Of Pooh)

Lesson: We don’t know the extent of our own personal power. And, sometimes, the most insignificant seeming people among us are those most able to effect great change.

7. Two wolves

A Cherokee elder sitting with his grandchildren told them, “In every life there is a terrible fight – a fight between two wolves.

One is evil: he is fear, anger, envy, greed, arrogance, self-pity, resentment, and deceit.
The other is good: joy, serenity, humility, confidence, generosity, truth, gentleness, and compassion.”

A child asked,
“Grandfather, which wolf will win?” The elder looked him in the eye.
“The one you feed.”

Lesson: Development of good character depends on everyday choices one makes.

8. The chef cook and his daughter

A daughter complained to her father about life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of struggling. It seemed that as soon as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her he asked. “What do you see?”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.
He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

She said, “What’s the point?”
He explained that each of the items had faced the same adversity – boiling water – but each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong and hard. But after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Do you become weak, like a carrot, hard on the
inside, like an egg, or do you change the circumstances, like the coffee beans?”

Lesson: There are different ways to react to hardship. Don’t be weak or suppress things – change circumstances from within.

9. Is your jar full?

A Professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the Professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The Professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous “Yes.”

The Professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the Professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things – your family, your children, your health, your friends, your favorite passions – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else – the small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first”, he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

When he had finished, there was a profound silence. Then one of the students raised her hand and with a puzzled expression, inquired what the beer represented.

The Professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers.”

Lesson: When things in your life seem almost to much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar……and the beer.

10. Giving blood

Many years ago, when I worked as a transfusion volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a disease and needed blood from her five-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, “Yes, I’ll do it if it will save Liza.”

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away?”

Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give her all his blood.

Lesson: True brother love exists.

11. The obstacle on our path

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand.

Lesson: Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one’s condition.

12. Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 pm, an older African-American woman was standing on the side of a Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her-generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry! She wrote down his address, thanked him and drove away. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man’s door. To his surprise, a giant combination console color TV and stereo record player were delivered to his home. A special note was attached. The note read:

Dear Mr. James: Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes but my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

Lesson: Be good for everyone.

13. The sleepless saint

Seven years ago, I visited the place called Dharansala, home of the Dalai Lama. The hillside town is seven thousand feet up the Himalayan Mountains. This town attracts many seekers. “The Traveler’s Hotline” assured us that the person to see was this legendary 24-hour lama. A Buddhist monk who had gone without sleep for several years, he had achieved this remarkable feat by the simple technique of meditating instead of taking his “beauty sleep.”
“He must be a wise person,” I thought as I set off for a 5-hour trek to a remote monastery where their 24-hour man resided. I figured that since he had so much time on his hands, maybe he would grant me an audience. Six hours later, I was ushered into a Spartan cell, where sat the man who had not dreamt in years. I was astounded by the Buddha-like tranquility he seemed to emanate. I felt humbled in the presence of this sublime being.

The friendly English-speaking monk, who had found him for me, whispered, “Make your offering, maybe Lama give your blessing.”

I decided I’d make a dash for wisdom and ask a question, instead of a blessing. The monk whispered into Mr. Tylenol Nightmare’s ear, “What question would you like to ask?”

“How do I best progress spiritually?”

More whisperings in a dark, exotic language…My translator friend announced, “Lama say, don’t leave on Saturday.” The 24-hour lama nodded in my direction and then carried on beaming.

I was furious! A 5-hour trek, a rucksack full of goodies to take as offerings – and now a 5-hour walk back down a treacherous Himalayan trail. I was in a reflective mood: maybe I’d expected too much. What did I want from him? Instant enlightenment? Some wisdom would’ve been nice, but “Don’t leave on Saturday”?! Maybe this was some kind of Zen Buddhist paradox within this mundane phase that contained some great gem of wisdom, but dammit! He was a Tibetan Buddhist!!

On Sunday morning, waiting at the coach station for the bus that would take an arduous, 10-hour journey down the vast mountain, my traveling companion stormed up to me and furiously exclaimed, “Bloody great! A 3-hour delay! I just chatted with that policeman over there…he reckons Saturday’s coach had crashed with 14 people dead…The road’s blocked with rescue vehicles…Good thing we didn’t leave yesterday, like we wanted.”

I was in a state of shock. My mind raced back to the beaming Buddha. I was filled with wonderment and joy. He had given me the perfect answer to my question. Had I left Saturday, there would have been no more spiritual progression. The mundane answer to my oh-so-important question was stunning in its magnificence.

Lesson: What is necessary for spiritual progress is perhaps not what you think

14. Angel sprinkles

Hi, I wanted to share this angel story with you.

I had put a package of the angel sprinkles (the small gold colored foil angels) in my purse after one of the Psychic Fairs. The package was opened and the angels fell out into my purse. When I discovered what had happened, I put the loose angels into my coin purse. (a little change purse – inside my purse.)

On the way home, I was at the store paying for something and change was required. I dug in, got the change, gave it to the sales person. I did not realize that there were also angels stuck in with the money!

Well she said: “Oh angels for me! Thank you! Come back and see me anytime!”

This happened to me several times that day, with almost the same reaction at different places, with different people. So now I keep the angels in there and always dispense them with the change.

This little practice has led to some interesting conversations – for instance, when I did go back to the same store that the lady received the first angels. She told me how much she treasured them and kept them by her bed. She said she gave one to her daughter too.

She then told me about her personal healing experience. She said: “I don’t usually tell people this but, I was paralyzed as a child. I could not walk or talk. My grandparents were very devout and my grandfather told me that if I really believed in God and Holy Mother Mary that I would be healed. He said that God was inside me and if my faith was strong enough I would be well.

Well, I believed him, he was my grandfather.

I started praying, I really believed. Within a year I was totally healed!

I am so grateful to God for this healing!”

I then gave her some more angel sprinkles, and again she acted like I had given her a million dollars! She also told me that the first time she saw me that she thought that I was an angel! (blush…..) She said that she could feel the energy and it made her turn around and look at me. I told her that if she felt anything through me – that it was God; I was only the instrument.

What a lovely experience!

I plan on always keeping the little gold angels in my change purse and dispensing them everywhere. When I do, I don’t say anything, I just give them with the change.

Rev. Mary

Lesson: always keep room for a little magic in your relationships

15. The Moth Who Fell in Love with A Star.

There once was a moth that fell in love with a star.
All his friends and relatives mocked him, told him he was being unrealistic, and urged him to focus his efforts on some local, possible, attainable goal: a streetlamp, a porchlight, a candle or a lantern. Even a chandelier, if he must.
But our Moth was in love with His Star, and he would not give up.
So while all his pals, his parents, his sisters and brothers and cousins and aunts, soon burned themselves out around the local, ready-made luminaries, and wound up as charred bits of ash on the sidewalks, the porches, the floors and tables of the town, our Moth enjoyed a long and happy and healthy life in endless pursuit of his limitless Star.

Lesson: to ‘reach for the stars’ – having an ambitious goal – can actually keep you safe and sane.

16. The king and the flowers

A king had a wonderful talent for growing flowers and was looking for someone to succeed him. He decided he would let the flowers decide so he gave everyone a little seed. The one who would produce the most beautiful flower from the seed would be the next king.
A girl called Serena was overwhelmed by the beauty and determined to grow the most beautiful flower. She planted it in a nice pot, took great care for it, but nothing would grow.

The next year she saw everyone gathering at the palace with pots full of beautiful flowers. She was disappointed but also went to the meeting with her empty pot. The king inspected all the flower pots and then stopped at hers. Why is your pot empty, he asked. Your highness, I did everything to make it grow, but I have failed, she answered.
No, you didn’t, he replied. You see, the seeds I’ve given out were all roasted, so nothing could come out of them. I have no idea where all these flowers come from. But you have been honest and by being so, have deserved to be my heir. You will our queen.

Lesson: it pays to be honest

17. The kind and the peace contest

There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried and submitted their work. The king looked at all the pictures. There were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake, perfectly mirroring the peaceful, towering mountains all around it. Overhead was blue sky with fluffy, white clouds. It was the favorite of all who saw it. Truly, they thought, it was the perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too, but these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and in which lightening played. Down the side of one mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. A less peaceful picture would be difficult to imagine. But when the king looked closely, he saw beside the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest in perfect peace.
Which picture would you have selected? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?

“Because,” explained the king, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all these things and still be calm in your heart. This is the real meaning of peace.”

Lesson: real peace is in your heart

18. Mind the genie in the lamp

There once was a very poor man, who woke up hungry with only 1 rupee left in his pocket.
He decides to go to the market and see if his rupee can buy him some left over fruit.
At the market he meets a fancy clothed man behind a table with a beautiful oil lamp on it, and a sign that reads “1 rupee”.
The poor man can’t believe his eyes, and asks the man what the catch is.
It’s true, the lamp only costs 1 rupee, the man says.
And he explains that in the lamp there lives a genie, who fulfills all your desires.
“Then why do you sell it?”, the poor man wants to know.
“Well, the genie is always active and rather impatient”, it is explained. “And if you don’t pay attention to him, he’ll start taking things away again”.
“Well OK”, the poor man says. “Since I don’t have much to lose I will buy it from you”.
When he arrives back home, he rubs the lamp and the genie appears. “How can I serve you, master?”, he asks.
“Prepare me a meal worthy of a king”, the poor man commands.
Within a second the genie serves an opulous meal with 87 courses.
The poor man is delighted, but when he wants to start eating, the genie asks again – “And how can I serve you master?”
Keeping in mind that the genie can also take away all the goodies, the poor man commands: “Build me a beautiful castle, suitable for a maharadja!”
Only a few seconds pass by, and the man now finds himself in a beautiful palace. He likes to explore it, but there comes the genie again, asking “How can I serve you, master?”
Every wish is immediately fulfilled, and when ignored, the genie takes away everything.
The poor man is annoyed and goes to the village sage, where he explains his problem.
After a silent conversation, the poor man steps to the genie and says: ‘Genie, build me a large pole and stick it in the ground”.
The genie immediately builds a pole and sticks it in the ground.
“Now genie, I want you to climb up and down the pole, over and over again”.
The genie starts climbing right away.
And now the man has time to eat his meal, explore his palace and do other things.
When he and the sage go to see what the genie is doing, they see that he has fallen asleep next to the pole.
“And so it is with the thinking genie of every man”, explains the sage.
“It is restless in its desire to satisfy every desire, and fragments our being.
The pole is a tool called a ‘mantra’.
By repeating it over and over again, our restless mind is kept busy until it gets so bored that it falls asleep.
And this way our true self can enjoy the world.”

Lesson: you are more than your mind – don’t worry and enjoy your self

19. According to an old Hindu legend…

..there was once a time when all human beings were gods, but they so abused their divinity that Brahma, the chief god, decided to take it away from them and hide it where it could never be found.

Where to hide their divinity was the question. So Brahma called a council of the gods to help him decide. “Let’s bury it deep in the earth,” said the gods. But Brahma answered, “No, that will not do because humans will dig into the earth and find it.” Then the gods said, “Let’s sink it in the deepest ocean.” But Brahma said, “No, not there, for they will learn to dive into the ocean and will find it.” Then the gods said, “Let’s take it to the top of the highest mountain and hide it there.” But once again Brahma replied, “No, that will not do either, because they will eventually climb every mountain and once again take up their divinity.” Then the gods gave up and said, “We do not know where to hide it, because it seems that there is no place on earth or in the sea that human beings will not eventually reach.”

Brahma thought for a long time and then said, “Here is what we will do. We will hide their divinity deep in the center of their own being, for humans will never think to look for it there.”

All the gods agreed that this was the perfect hiding place, and the deed was done. And since that time humans have been going up and down the earth, digging, diving, climbing, and exploring–searching for something already within themselves.

Lesson: don’t be distracted by worldly kicks – find truth and happiness in your self

* Note: nếu gặp phải ‘SME restriction’ thì bạn xem trực tiếp ở YouTube: PlayList Quảng Trị 1972

Đây là List YouTube Video trọn bộ 4 DVDs. Để mua bộ DVD gốc, xin xem thông tin ở dưới hoặc tìm trên Google. Xin cảm ơn.

Tham khảo:
1. Vinanet

QUẢNG TRỊ MÙA HÈ ĐỎ LỬA 1972 [ 4 DVDs ] [ IRCC DÂN SINH ]

Trong cuộc chiến Việt Nam, cuộc tổng tấn công xâm lấn Miền Nam của Bắc Quân là một giai đọan chiến tranh khốc liệt nhất. Năm 1972, Bắc Quân đã xua quân tấn công trên nhiều mặt trận cùng một lúc– tại Bình Long, tại Kontum và tại Quảng Trị. Ở mặt trận Quảng Trị, Bắc Quân đã tung nhiều sư đòan thiện chiến, sử dụng chiến xa hặng nặng cùng đại pháo tầm xa lấn chiếm Quảng Trị với mục tiêu đánh chiếm ít nhất tới Cố Đô Huế để dựng một thủ đô cho tổ chức chính trị bình phong của họ, gọi Mặt Trận Giải Phóng Miền Nam.

Bắc Quân đã ào ạt vượt qua Bến Hải như thế chẻ tre, nhanh chóng chiếm hết tỉnh Quảng Trị, tràn vào Cổ Thành và tiếp tục đánh tới thì bị một Lữ Đoàn TQLC của ta chận đứng lại tại sông Thạch Hãn. Từ đó quân ta chuyển sang thế tổng phản công và biến mặt trận này thành trận thư hùng Nam Bắc.

Trận thư hùng này ra sao dưới cái nhìn của Bắc Quân 37 năm sau? Họ vừa mới viết ra rằng đây là một trận khốc liệt nhất, thừa nhận một thiệt hại lớn lao với hơn một vạn binh lính hy sinh, và không thể nói gì đến kết quả thắng thua.

Trận Thư Hùng này có giá trị lịch sử như thế nào với những cựu chiến binh VNCH? Chiến thắng năm xưa đã nói lên được những gì? Và để lại được những gì cho thế hệ mai sau?

Để nhớ về một chiến tích lẫy lừng tỏ lộ rõ ràng ý chí quyết thắng, tinh thần bảo vệ nền tự do độc lập, và lòng hy sinh cao độ của một thế hệ trong chiến tranh, cơ quan IRCC Dân Sinh đã cho thực hiện bộ DVD lịch sử này.

Bộ DVD gồm 4 dĩa, gồm các chủ đề như sau:

DVD #1: Quảng Trị Mùa Hè Đỏ Lửa 1972
DVD #2: Trận Thư Hùng Nam Bắc
DVD #3: Vị Tổng Tư Lệnh
DVD #4: Tâm Tình Của Người Lính Năm Xưa (Bộ Mới)

Bộ DVD này không chỉ có những hình ảnh về chiến tranh. Còn có những chuyện về một thế hệ thanh niên thập niên 70s “có 20 năm làm tuổi trẻ nhưng chưa bao giờ được hưởng trọn một ngày vui” đã mạnh mẽ đứng dậy lên đường vào quân đội để bảo vệ đất nước.

Còn có những chuyện về người dân Quảng trị có quê ở Cam Lộ, ở Đông Hà, ở Ái Tử, ở Hiếu Giang, ở Thạch Hãn, ở Cổ Thành đã đau khổ như thế nào trong chiến tranh và đã sống ra sao sau này ở hải ngoại.

Còn có chuyện tình của người lính. Chuyện tình của người vợ lính. Chuyện của một người chiến binh Mũ Xanh quyết không hàng giặc. Chuyện của người lính Sư Đoàn 3 chiến đấu anh dũng mà không ai nhắc tới. Chuyện của người lính Sư Đòan 1 nằm trong toán Hắc Báo trinh sát vượt sông đi vào lòng địch quyết tử. Chuyện của người lính đi vào cõi chết để mang lá cờ cắm lên Cổ Thành làm niềm hãnh diện cho quân ta. Chuyện của người lính Mũ Đỏ đi vào đêm đen mở đường cho quân ta tiến vào tái chiếm Cổ Thành. Chuyện của những người lính Mũ Xanh còn rất trẻ đã ngã gục trong cuộc chiến.

Và chuyện của 3 vị chỉ huy cùng là những người bạn cùng khóa sinh viên sĩ quan, qua lịch sử, đã gặp nhau trên cùng một mặt trận.

Còn nữa, còn chuyện về vị Tổng Tư Lệnh QL/VNCH. Ông có can đảm không? Ông có phải là một chiến binh “thứ thiệt” không? Ông đã cùng đánh trận với quân đội của ông như thế nào?

Đây là một bộ DVD mà khán thính giả Dân Sinh đã sẵn sàng đặt mua ngay từ hôm nay, từ trước ngày phát hành. Mọi người đang ngóng chờ từng ngày để thưởng ngọan một bộ DVD mà khi xem, có nhiều lúc phải xúc động nghẹn ngào nhưng cũng hưởng trọn vẹn một niềm hãnh diện không nguôi về một quá khứ oai hùng của chính mình.

Vậy, nếu quý vị đã biết IRCC Dân Sinh, xin đặt mua ngay hôm nay để giúp chúng tôi biết trước được nhu cầu người mua mà chuẩn bị cho chu đáo hơn. Chúng tôi sẽ không bán qua đại lý, ngoại trừ một vài trường hợp đặc biệt sẽ có thông báo trên trang web này. Tuy nhiên chúng tôi sẽ có đại lý bên Âu Châu, Úc Châu và Canada để mang đến sự thuận tiện cho quý vị ở những nơi đó.

Một bộ DVD gồm 4 dĩa, dài 8 tiếng, có giá $20 Mỹ Kim tại Hoa Kỳ, Canada & úc Châu. Có giá $20 Euro tại Âu Châu. Tại Hoa Kỳ, xin ký chi phiếu đề trả cho IRCC và gửi về địa chỉ sau đây:

IRCC
1445 Koll Circle, Suite 110
San Jose, CA 95112. USA.
(408) 452‑5784
mailto:chuongtrinhdansinh@yahoo.com – chuongtrinhdansinh@yahoo.com

2. Blogspot
Với 4 đĩa dài 8 giờ chia ra làm 4 đề tài nhưng có mối liên quan mật thiết. Xin giới thiệu để quý vị nghe qua tiểu tựa của mỗi đề tài. Tất cả đều thuộc về bộ DVD Quảng Trị mùa hè 72.

Ðĩa mở đầu là niềm đau từ trận lui binh bi thảm để lại cả một đại lộ kinh hoàng. Ðĩa này bắt đầu bằng lời giới thiệu của 1 thành viên quốc gia nghĩa tử mà cha và anh cô đã hy sinh cho Việt Nam Cộng Hòa. Ông là đại tá tỉnh trưởng Hậu Nghĩa tử trận mùa hè 72 và bào huynh của cô tự vẫn chết ngày 30 tháng 4–1975. Hình ảnh khởi đi bằng các tâm tư của tuổi trẻ miền Nam cho đến khi khói lửa chiến tranh từ Kontum, An lộc ra đến Quảng Trị. Những người dân ở vùng địa đầu đã nói gì về miền Hỏa tuyến. Rồi Bắc quân tổng tấn công và 300 ngàn dân Quảng trị phải di tản. Những nhân chứng sống trải qua bao nhiêu đoạn trường đã kể lại câu chuyện con đường toàn xác chết trên quốc lộ số 1. Ðĩa số 1 là niềm đau thương chất ngất, dù rằng có cả những hành động anh hùng và hình ảnh chiến đấu dũng cảm, nhưng miền Nam cũng phải nhận lấy vết thương cay đắng khi mất toàn tỉnh Quảng Trị trong 1 tháng lui binh. Nhưng đĩa số 1 cũng đồng thời là bản cáo trạng lên án Bắc quân giết 3.000 dân trên quốc lộ số 1 vào ngày 1/5/1972. Hình ảnh đàn bà trẻ em trên đại lộ kinh hoàng với bài ca về những xác người và tiếng khóc sau cùng sẽ còn ở lại trong lòng người xem mãi mãi khôn nguôi.

Ðĩa số 2 với tựa đề Trận thư hùng Nam Bắc mở ra với Saigon đẹp lắm trong ánh sáng miền Nam, có cả hình ảnh chiêu hồi, ánh đuốc xây dựng nông thôn, nối tiếp bài ca Hội nghị Diên Hồng đưa đến giai đoạn miền Nam tổng phản công. Khi cắm được ngọn cờ trên Cổ thành Quảng Trị, chúng ta trở lại với câu chuyện về những gian truân đời lính và nhận diện anh hùng. Hai lãnh vực hết sức dung tục và tế nhị đã được đề cập đến bằng lời lẽ và suy tư của chính từng người lính chiến. Sau cùng là ý kiến của chiến binh nhìn lại chiến trường 38 năm sau và lời kết đóng lại với 1 người con gái của quốc gia nói về nghĩa trang quân đội Biên Hòa, nơi đã chôn cất hầu hết chiến binh tổng trừ bị hy sinh tại hỏa tuyến năm 1972.

Ðến đĩa số 3 quả thực là 1 củ hành lịch sử, càng bóc càng cay, bóc hết là tràn đầy nước mắt. Không thể có 1 tài liệu nào sống động hơn khi đề cập đến vị Tổng thống đệ nhị Cộng hòa Nguyễn Văn Thiệu.
Những lời thóa mạ trực diện, những câu hỏi tàn nhẫn thay cho lời buộc tội. Và có cả những lời bình luận tốt đẹp. Hình ảnh ngày xưa, hình ảnh ngày nay. Từ đám tang đến lễ giỗ. Từ hội họp bên trong đầy tình chiến hữu, đến biểu tình bên ngoài hết sức căm hận.

Ðĩa số 4 sẽ đưa lại cho quý vị những hình ảnh êm đềm dịu dàng hơn với những mảnh đời khác biệt. Các chiến binh ngày nay, mỗi gia đình là 1 hoàn cảnh. Từ anh chàng không quân lãng tử cô đơn hát cho quán nhậu Tri Kỷ tại Saigon 25 năm trước, đã được NBC phát hình, ngày nay lại hát nốt lời ca ngợi tình yêu tại quán Hẹn Hò trên con phố Bolsa. Chuyện người trai võ bị trở thành phế nhân gần 40 năm qua còn nằm ở xứ Tây Ninh. Chuyện người vợ ở nuôi chồng ở Nam Cali, đến chuyện 1 nhà đoàn tụ của cựu tù cải tạo Bắc Cali. Và chuyện người lính lực lượng đặc biệt một ngày, nay đã trở thành binh nghiệp một đời. Với hạnh phúc bên đại gia đình hôm nay nhưng vẫn còn nhớ mãi thủa hoa niên, khi mới vào đời, ôm cánh dù đêm nhẩy xuống biệt khu Hải Yến. Ðã tưởng rằng một đi không trở lại…

Những nhân chứng đi vào lịch sử

4 đĩa DVD với hàng trăm người góp mặt và lên tiếng. Hình ảnh hết sức độc đáo tưởng rằng không thể nào tìm đâu được. Kèm theo những lời ca tiếng hát tô điểm cho các thước phim tài liệu hiếm quý.
Những tiếng hát chọn lọc và hết sức giới hạn được chen vào tin tức, bình luận. Tiếng hát của cô con gái ông quận trưởng Cam Lộ hay tiếng hát của cả hai thế hệ Ðông Hà.
Diễm Liên cất lời ca cho tuổi trẻ. Nguyễn đức Quang hào hùng muôn thủa. Nhật Hạ thương về miền Trung. Khánh Ly xúc động với mối ân tình dành cho người chiến binh mũ xanh Thủy quân lục chiến, một thời trên Phá Tam Giang. Phương Hồng Quế kể lại kỷ niệm hát trong hầm hành quân tiền tuyến. Có cả Thanh Lan, Như Quỳnh, Nguyên Nhu, nhưng đây không phải là DVD thuần túy văn nghệ. Có tiếng đạn bom vang dội nhưng không phải là DVD thuần túy chiến tranh. Có ý kiến bình luận nhưng không phải là DVD chính trị.

Ðây chính là 1 DVD của tâm tình lịch sử.

Câu chuyện Quảng Trị trong DVD này là câu chuyện của toàn thể miền Nam. Trận hỏa tuyến điển hình tại Quảng Trị đã hy sinh 50 ngàn chiến binh cả 2 bên từ tháng 4 đến tháng 9–1972. Hà nội tập trung toàn thể nhân lực nông thôn và thành thị miền Bắc từ 1971 để đưa vào chiến trường mùa hè 72. Có cả những đứa bé 15 và 16 tuổi vác cây súng dài hơn người. Sau 81 ngày chống cự, những chú lính trẻ sống sót đầu hàng đã gọi người sỹ quan cộng hòa gốc Hà nội là ông và xưng là cháu. Ông Hà Nội di cư bèn nghĩ rằng, không biết thằng nào ở ngoài Bắc đã sui cháu vào đây để giết ông.

Với 4 đĩa DVD trải dài qua 4 đề tài, chúng tôi đã mời được sự tham dự của rất nhiều nhân chứng thuộc đủ mọi thành phần mà kết quả chính nhà thực hiện bộ phim cũng phải ngạc nhiên. Có tất cả hình ảnh tiêu biểu của mọi binh chủng tham gia trận chiến tại quân khu I vào mùa hè 72. Dù, TQLC, pháo binh, thiết giáp, biệt động quân, bộ binh, địa phương quân, xây dựng nông thôn… Hình ảnh 3 vị tư lệnh lữ đoàn nguyên là sinh viên sỹ quan cùng đại đội trong trường Ðà Lạt 1954, mười tám năm sau gặp nhau trên một mặt trận. Vai trò của thiết giáp binh với đại tá mũ đen về làm tỉnh trưởng Quảng Trị trên đống gạch vụn.

Những sĩ quan cấp úy can trường của nhẩy dù tiến quân dọc đường số 1 từ Mỹ Chánh lên Thạch Hãn. Những đại đội trưởng anh hùng của TQLC đã chỉ huy binh sĩ tiến vào cắm cờ trên cổ thành. Những đơn vị trưởng không chịu đầu hàng tại căn cứ Carroll. Tuy nhiên, DVD Quảng Trị không phải thuần túy là một ký sự quân sự. Ðây là thiên bút ký về một vùng đất đặc biệt với khí hậu khắc nghiệt nhưng rất nặng tình tự dân tộc. Chúng ta sẽ khám phá sao vùng đất đau khổ như vậy mà đã có quá nhiều tài hoa lỗi lạc. Sau cùng, DVD này sẽ là một tác phẩm dựa vào câu chuyện năm 72 để làm cho kỷ niệm Quảng Trị hồi sinh từ nơi xa xôi vạn dặm.

Xin liên lạc về văn phòng IRCC, Inc. Địa chỉ:

1445 Koll Circle, #110 San Jose, CA. 95112.
Ðiện thoại: (408) 392 9923 Email: irccsj@yahoo.com giaochisanjose@sbcglobal.net
DVD Chan dung nguoi linh ($20 US) va Quang Tri mua he 72 ($20 US). Payable to IRCC.

By: TSO Photography
Info: http://vimeo.com/30447882

This was filmed during August 2011. This is my interpretation of the fjord landscape in western Norway. Having spent countless days here, I really enjoy even the smallest parts of this landscape. Like hidden streams or dwarfish waterfalls outside of the beaten track that offer a great deal of solitude.

This movie was editing “on the road” and uploaded over 3G network from southeast asia. I have decided to spend the next two years creating a 60min blu-ray/dvd. As a landscape photographer, I have visited some really amazing places over the years, and now I will be revisiting many of them for this movie. It is a full-on project, and as a result I have now sold my apartment, print-studio, car and other belongings.

I thought Beethoven´s Moonlight Sonata would be appropriate, and asked my friend Marika Takeuchi if she could record it in a studio. She made a fantastic version which I love very much. Thank you!