Looking for the stories behind the classic war films of the Anti-Japanese War

Author: Bai Ruixue
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Time flies, and the mortal world is bustling. Many past events have faded like clouds and mist, while the battle scenes from these old films are etched onto the screen of memory, occasionally resurfacing. Where were these stories born? From where do these artistic images originate? On the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Anti-Japanese War, we decided to seek out the stories behind the classic war films. The difficulty of this search is no less than the process of creating these films six decades ago. The blood-and-fire stories from the turbulent years six decades ago are far more classic than the artistic creations later adapted for the screen. It is often said that art stems from life and yet transcends it. In fact, the real battle life can even overshadow artistic creation.
This book narrates a series of stories of search and discovery, the latest in a series of historical explorations conducted by journalists from Xinhua News Agency's People's Liberation Army branch. Their focus is the classic war films that once influenced generations of Chinese people and became a major part of people's cultural lives, such as Eight Hundred Heroes, Eight Women Throw Themselves into the River, Throwing Themselves into the River, Tunnels Warfare, Mine Warfare, Little Soldier Zhang Ga, The Story of Willow Town, Plain Guerillas, and Wild Fire and Spring Battle in Ancient City. The little-known stories behind the production of these classic war films are hidden within these tales. What lies behind these stories is far more vivid and lively than the creation of literature and art. The intrepid searchers recount the precious historical moments, and the rare photographic images bring history closer to the present, making readers feel as if they are immersed in the past.