Poignant moment: A scene in Mui Co Chay (The Scent of Burnt Grass). The film has been nominated for the 85th Academy Awards in the category Best Foreign Language Film. — File Photo

HA NOI (VNS)— The movie Mui Co Chay (The Scent of Burnt Grass) by director Nguyen Huu Muoi has been nominated for the 85th Academy Awards in the category Best Foreign Language Film.

Produced by the Viet Nam Feature Film Studio, director Muoi's first work was inspired from the diary of fallen soldier Nguyen Van Thac, entitled Mai Mai Tuoi 20 (Forever 20).

The movie tells a story of four students in 1971 who join the army and fight on the Quang Tri battlefield in the central Viet Nam. It was selected for the awards by a national committee, beating 19 others.

Scent of Burnt Grass has already received many accolades, including the Golden Kite for Best Picture at the Viet Nam Cinematography's Association awards in March, and a Silver Lotus at the National Film Festival (the Golden Lotus was not awarded).

Scriptwriter for the movie, Hoang Nhuan Cam, said winning the award was not the most important thing for him.

"I'm moved because a portrait of Vietnamese young people, who gave up their youth for the cause of national liberation, will be shown to the international community," Cam said.

"The story was told not only for us but also for younger generations."

Last year, Luu Trong Ninh's Khat Vong Thang Long (The Prince and the Pagoda Boy) was entered in the Best Foreign Language Film category. — VNS