War film marks cinema's return to frontline
The director, with his voice choking with emotion, says that he appreciates all the crew members and financers who supported him in overcoming difficulties and obstacles to finish his dream project."It's a supreme glory for us to finally see this project (in theaters)," he says.
A 52-year-old Beijing native, Guan got inspiration from the battlefield stories told by his father, a former soldier with the Eighth Route Army, a major force led by the Communist Party to take on the Japanese.
Set during last phase of the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, the film recounts the story of the more than 400 Chinese soldiers defending the Sihang Warehouse, a last-stand battle which boosted the morale of Chinese people amid the aftermath of the retreat of Kuomintang's major forces.
In order to mislead the Japanese enemy, Xie Jinyuan-the besieged Chinese troops' commander-lied to reporters, claiming that he had"800 soldiers" but the actual number was a little more than 400.
The story of "The Eight Hundred" has previously inspired two films, released in 1938 and 1975.
But Guan's latest adaptation has reached new heights, especially in terms of cinematic technique, thanks to the Chinese film industry's rapid development.
