Boundaries

The documentary shows the fragile boundary betweenlife and death, the extraordinary efforts of the medicalstaff in the fight against the Coronavirus to save thelives of infected pregnant women. It was filmed at HungVuong Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City in August 2020.With the consent of the characters, the film crewdecided to choose an approach for the documentaryin a way that respected the truth and put the interestsof society above individual freedom. Therefore, thedocumentary did not blur the faces of the patients.After being broadcast, the film created a ‘seismic’ onsocial media. On VTV’s YouTube, the film receivedover 2.5 M. views. Most of the audience reactions werepositive. But there was also criticism about the right topersonal information, the right to be forgotten. Whencan journalism cross the line of private life? When doindividual rights come after public interest? How doesthe social context affect the decision to choose adirection for a work? In reporting on the pandemic, arejournalists ‘firestarters’ who evoke new conflicts, or arethey ‘firefighters’ who calm the turmoil in society?The documentary became hot news in Vietnamesemedia. It is believed to have contributed to the overallsuccess of the fight against the pandemic. At the22nd Vietnam Film Festival, it won The Golden LotusAward.