"Leaning on the Railing" is a period war drama set in the Republic of China, directed by Jin Chen, starring Hu Yitian, Zhang Ruonan, Wang Jinsong, Zhang Xilin, etc. The play tells the story of a group of hot-blooded pilots and three intellectual families in turbulent times with patriotic feelings, youthful dreams and the glory of humanity. Through real historical events, the series shows the spirit of that era.
The main storyline in the play revolves around the love story of pilot Zhang Qi (played by Hu Yitian) and patriotic young man Meng Haitang (played by Zhang Ruonan). As an outstanding flight instructor, Zhang Qi bravely fought an air battle with the Japanese army in order to defend the airspace of the motherland. Meng Haitang, a lecturer at Peking University's medical school, led her students south to Chongqing during the war and established a school in exile dedicated to preserving the cultural fire. The two met and fell in love in the context of war, fighting together for the future and ideals of their country.
Their love has gone through many challenges, including separation, sacrifice, exile, and eventual reunion. This bumpy but determined love finally ended happily in the context of the birth of New China. Through the wonderful plot and profound character building, "Leaning on the Railing" not only shows the historical style of that era, but also reflects the complex emotions and choices of the characters between war and peace, sacrifice and happiness.
With its compact plot, realistic scenes and wonderful performances of the actors, the play successfully reproduced the changes of that era and people's patriotic feelings. It is not only a TV series with high entertainment value, but also an excellent work that can inspire people to think deeply about history and culture.
The climax of "Leaning on the Railing" takes place during the Battle of Yunnan and Burma, which is a story of Zhang Qi, Meng Haitang and some students going to the battlefield to establish a field hospital. In the intense Battle of Pinggu, Zhang Qi was unfortunately captured by the Japanese army and his whereabouts have been unknown ever since. During this difficult time, Meng Haitang conceived Zhang Qi's child and eventually decided to give birth to their son in order to preserve Zhang Qi's bloodline, even though it posed a huge risk to her personal health.
Although Meng Haitang did not give up looking for Zhang Qi for many years, it was not until thirty years later that they reunited in Beijing. This long separation and eventual reunion greatly touched the emotions of the audience. Their son Zhang Yunfeng (played by Li Mincheng) has also grown into an excellent pilot, inheriting his father's career and continuing the family's tradition of piloting. In the play, the family is finally reunited and shares the joy of family, which is a touching scene in the play.
As a patriotic educational drama, "Leaning on the Railing" successfully shows the dedication and demeanor of pilots and intellectuals during the Republic of China. In their own way, they made an important contribution to the independence and development of the country. The wonderful performances of the actors, especially Hu Yitian and Zhang Ruonan, won wide recognition from the audience. Their love story is not only touching, but also profoundly shows the emotional struggles and sacrifices of people during the war. The series also tries its best to restore the style of that era in the design of costumes, props, and scenes, so that the audience can feel the realism of history. The compact plot, the ups and downs of the plot, and the beautiful music make "The Wind and Clouds Rise by the Railing" a period war drama worth watching.