Biography

Lê Phương (born Nguyễn Văn Tiến in Hanoi, 1933 - 14 May 2022) was a Vietnamese writer and screenwriter. He joined the army at the age of 16, and in 1953 participated in route surveying in preparation for the Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1954). From this experience came his first work, a memoir "Fireproofing" (Thử lửa), which was published in The Cứu Quốc Quân and gained recognition. He became a journalist in 1960 and was often writing about construction workers: "Invincible" (Bất khuất) was his first novel set in a mining area, first published by Labour in 1963. During the 15 years from 1963 to 1978, Lê Phương released approximately seven novels whose specialized subjects vary: from artillery fighters protecting the Hàm Rồng bridge in "Fortress 44" (Pháo đài 44, 1965); geology in "Cô Tan Valley" (Thung lũng Cô Tan, 1973); forestry in "Bach Dan" (Bạch Đàn, 1975) to irrigation in "The Fork of Time" (Ngã ba thời gian, 1978). Lê Phương began working as a screenwriter since 1977. His work in film is not extensive but memorable, the most notable credits including director Long Vân's "Where Love Meets" (Nơi gặp gỡ của tình yêu) and "Saigon Rangers" (Biệt động Sài Gòn, 1982-1986). He also adapted his novel "Invincible" (Bất khuất) for the film "Tornado" (Cơn lốc biển, d. Nguyễn Khắc Lợi). After 1990, Lê Phương transitioned to TV writing and gained recognition for the series "A Tear between Two Centuries" (Giọt nước mắt giữa hai thế kỷ). His wife, screenwriter Trịnh Thanh Nhã, was his cowriter on many of his projects.