Errors and omissions are standard features of historical dramas everywhere. It is therefore no surprise to find Korean War history being filtered to suit domestic requirements in the three-hour Chi…
offers little more than generic human drama in between massive and mostly impressive battle scenes.
This very old-fashioned production depicts a string of military engagements during the winter of 1950, when soldiers from China’s newly-named People’s Volunteer Army entered North Korea. The decisive two-week campaign — known in the West as the Battle of Chosin Reservoir — forced UN forces to retreat south of the 38th parallel and initiated a war of attrition that lasted until the armistice of 1953, which remains in place today.
Moral superiority plays an important role in a story that begins with UN forces in a commanding position in September 1950 and swaggering army brass including legendary U.S. commander General Douglas MacArthur telling troops things like “I guarantee you this will be over by Thanksgiving.” But all that weaponry and confidence will be no match for supremely dedicated and motivated Chinese troops, who can survive on raw potatoes in the freezing hills while their U.S.
The main human face of Mao’s call to arms is Wu Qianli , a decorated leader of the army’s 7th Company who’s just returned home after the Chinese Civil War with the ashes of his fallen soldier brother. There’s barely enough time for Qianli to pay respects to his parents and promise to build them a house before he’s ordered to ship out. Tagging along as a stowaway is Wu’s kid brother, Wanli , whose reasons for wanting to join the army are never made clear enough for us to care.
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