Renowned director Chen Kaige's war epic sequel "The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death," the second installment of his ambitious trilogy about the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) army during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53), is set for nationwide release on Sept. 30. 

Cast and crew of "The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death" pose for a group photo at the film's premiere in Beijing, Sept. 27, 2024. [Photo courtesy of China Film Group]

Chen said during an earlier interview that the trilogy, which contains over 200 key characters and was shot over a period of 13 months, is the biggest film project of his career. Boasting an all-star cast, the latest installment pays more attention to the fate of individuals in the war, providing a multi-faceted view of the war's brutality and the sacrifices made by the CPV soldiers. 

At the film's premiere in Beijing on Sept. 27, members of the cast and crew, including Zhu Yilong, Xin Baiqing, Zhang Zifeng, Zhu Yawen, Chen Feiyu and Wang Yanhui, shared their insights with the audience about their understandings and unforgettable experiences related to the film.

The film is centered on the battle in Cheorwon, where 25,000 CPV soldiers fought nearly 50,000 UNC forces for 12 days and nights. The battle, one of the fiercest during the Fifth Campaign of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, won precious time for the strategic transfer of the CPV army and shattered the enemies' plot to destroy the CPV army's rear base and eliminate their main force.

A poster of "The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death" at the film's premiere in Beijing, Sept. 27, 2024. [Photo by Wang Qian/China.org.cn]

Leading actor Zhu Yilong, who portrays Li Xiang, a commissar in the 63rd Unit of the 188th Division of the CPV army, said at the premiere, "This is the first time I have seen such a large crowd in a scene. One scene involved almost 1,500 people." He recalled that the film's high number of explosions demanded meticulous planning and countless rehearsals to achieve the perfect long shot.

Actress Zhang Zifeng, stars as Li Xiao, an English translator and younger sister of Li Xiang. She said that Li Xiao also went to the battlefield later where she experienced several brushes with death, and so began to understand why her father and brother wanted to fight in the battle. "As a translator, Li Xiao represented not only herself but also her motherland, which made her more courageous and stronger than ever," Zhang said.

Actor Zhu Yawen plays military equipment expert Wu Benzheng, who returns to China to serve his country in its hour of need. At the premiere, Zhu spoke about his frustration and shock upon learning about the arduous close combat faced by the CPV soldiers due to their outdated weapons and equipment. "I felt like I'd been transported back in time when I watched the playback — It was like I was watching a documentary," he said. 

Chinese table tennis legend Ding Ning (front row, second left) and Paris Olympic table tennis champion Fan Zhendong (front row, second right) pose for a group photo with the cast and crew of "The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death" at the film's premiere in Beijing, Sept. 27, 2024. [Photo courtesy of China Film Group]

Paris Olympic table tennis champion Fan Zhendong also appeared at the premiere to show his support for the film. He said, "Although I'm just a layman when it comes to films, I can tell that the entire cast delivers outstanding performances, and each role is very impressive." He mentioned that, as a former serviceman himself, the military rules significantly contributed to his personal growth. Watching the film also brought back memories of the vows he made during his service.

During the premiere, Zhu Yilong interacted with the audience and reflected on a past interview with director Chen Kaige. When asked why he felt compelled to make this film, Chen explained that he feared the CPV soldiers might be forgotten. "I believe this is also why we, as actors, chose to be part of this film," Zhu said. "These soldiers will not be forgotten here. They will always be there on the screen, and we will always remember them."

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