Hồ Thiện Nhân (front, middle), on whose life the movie Lửa Thiện Nhân is based, poses for a photo with his friends and mother on the first day of the film's screening in Hà Nội. — Photo sggp.org.vn

HA NOI (VNS) — Lửa Thiện Nhân, a moving film about a boy, is being screened at Ngọc Khánh and Tân Sơn Nhất theatres in Hà Nội and HCM City, respectively, since October 15.

The story, which is full of both sadness and happiness, is about an unfortunate boy. His first two doctors gave him the name Thiện, meaning Kindness and Nhân, meaning Human. On the first of screening of Lửa Thiện Nhân (Thiện Nhân's Fire), many people in the audience were moved to tears.

Nhân had exceptional survival instincts. He was abandoned in a deserted garden for three days by after birth. He was found losing a leg and his private parts while ants swarmed over his body. The little boy cried, drawing the attention of some people who saved him.

Moved by his incredible survival instincts, Trần Mai Anh, a young mother of two in Hà Nội, adopted him when he was two years old. Then she took him to many reconstructive doctors in Việt Nam and abroad, to Italy and the US for further operations.

Today, Nhân is an active nine-year-old boy who attends a primary school in Hà Nội. His nickname is "steadfast tin soldier".

Nhân's story had captured media attention and stirred people's hearts.

The film Lửa Thiện Nhân was made in a realistic style by director Đặng Hồng Giang over three years. The 77-minute film reveals many moving details about Nhân's journey towards regaining a normal body functions and starting a new life and of many other children who faced similar challenges.

The film also has recently-recorded views of Nhân's mother Trần Mai Anh, Chairman of Asia Injury Prevention Foundation Grieg Craft, and Roberto de Castro, the surgeon who conducted operations on both Nhan and other children in Việt Nam.

The opening scenes of Lửa Thiện Nhân are about the life of a one-legged boy, such as riding bikes in the park and hobbling along with crutches.

It continues with the arduous journeys that Mai Anh took Nhân to Thailand, Germany, America and Italy to have operations conducted to help him live a normal life. Towards its end, the film also speaks about thousands of children in Việt Nam who have undergone successful reconstructive surgeries to restore their missing body parts.

The viewers are moved into tears by not only Nhân and his mother's strong perseverance, but also by the kindness they receive during their journey.

"I haven't seen such a meaningful documentary for a long time," Lâm Thu Hiiền from Ba Đinh District said. "The reality of the documentary has touched the hearts of all viewers. I want my children to watch Lửa Thiện Nhân so that they learn about Nhân's story."

Director Quang said he was moved when he learned about Nhân's plight, and about human kindness when Mai Anh has taken him under her wing into her home, which encouraged him to make Lửa Thiện Nhân.

Lửa Thiện Nhân was screened at the fifth New York City Independence Film Festival last October. It was also shown at the Hà Nội International Film Festival in 2014.

The film will be screened in both Hà Nội and HCM City till November 15. — VNS