"Volunteers: Heroic Attack" is the first part of the film "Volunteers" trilogy directed by Chen Kaige, which tells the story of the stage from how to make decisions to send troops to the first and second battles of the Chinese Volunteers entering Korea. The film takes the group portraits of volunteers as the main line, and presents the heroic sons and daughters who defended the motherland on all fronts on the first anniversary of the founding of New China.
The first half of the film mainly shows the situation of "internal and external troubles" facing New China, as well as the political game between Mao Zedong and Stalin. In 1949, the People's Republic of China had just been founded, and there were still many hostile forces at home, and there were threats from Western countries such as the United States abroad. After the outbreak of the Korean Civil War, the US military crossed the 38th parallel and advanced north, repeatedly provoking on the Sino-North Korean border, and civilians were brutally bombed. In order to safeguard the hard-won peace and the long-term stability of generations to come, Mao Zedong decided to send Chinese volunteers to Korea to resist US aggression and aid Korea. Stalin, however, was ambiguous about this, neither supporting nor opposing, and only supplied limited supplies and weapons. Mao Zedong had to negotiate hard with Stalin and strategize for the interests of the country.
The second half of the film mainly shows the heroic battle of the volunteers on the Korean battlefield and the rise of the People's Republic of China on the diplomatic stage. On October 19, 1950, the Chinese People's Volunteers officially entered the DPRK, and the "War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea" began. The film takes Li Moyin, played by Xin Baiqing, as the core character, and the story revolves around a company he belongs to. Li Moyin is a young and promising journalist who entered the DPRK with the volunteer army and recorded the truth and emotion of the war with his camera. He formed a deep friendship with volunteer soldiers such as Li Xiang played by Zhu Yilong, Li Xiao played by Zhang Zifeng, and Sun Xing played by Chen Feiyu. They experienced the test of life and death on the battlefield and withstood the crazy attack of the American army with their flesh and blood. They successfully broke through in the first battle, fought back in the second battle, and won a complete victory in the Battle of Changjin Lake. With their heroic and fearless actions, they proved the strength and conviction of the new China and the new youth.
The climax of the film is the Battle of Changjin Lake. It was a battle of unprecedented scale and far-reaching impact, the most glorious victory of the volunteers on the Korean battlefield. With shocking scenes and tense rhythm, the film reproduces the fierce confrontation between the volunteers and the US army. In this battle, Li Moyin and his comrades played an important role, and they braved sacrifice and braved their lives to make immortal feats to defend Changjin Lake. The film reaches a double climax of emotion and vision here, which moves and shocks the audience.
"Volunteers: Heroic Attack" is an epic war masterpiece, which shows the battle for the founding of the new China in a panoramic and multi-dimensional manner. The film not only has grand visual effects, but also profound humanistic care. The film shows their personality and emotions through the group portraits of volunteers, allowing the audience to feel their charm and temperature. The film also reveals the politics and diplomacy behind the war through dialogue between Mao Zedong and Stalin. The film also shows the prestige and status of New China on the international stage through the appearance of the delegation of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations. The film is a work of historical significance and artistic value, and it is a work worthy of respect and praise.