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Assembly

Director Xiaogang Feng

During the Chinese civil war in 1948 Captain Gu Zidi leads his troops in a push against the enemy in a ruined town. They're ambushed and he loses many men. His reduced battalion of 47 loyal men are sent to defend the banks of the Wen river. All of them are killed, and in the confusion he's taken as a POW by his own side. Now sorted, and as time goes on with him fighting in the Korean War too, he constantly lives in the past thinking about the men he lost who've only ever been reported as Missing In Action and never given the recognition of bravery they deserved. So begins his one man quest.

Starts with set piece explosions in a rased town, very much along the lines of that battle in Saving Private Ryan, but soon leaves that battleground mentality as we follow Gu Zidi on his personal mission. A much more emotional film follows. This film is an excellent eyeopener to the chaos that must've ensued during those times in China - such a big country and so many people fighting and so many casualties. Gu Zidi's own men were mostly peasants , unable to read and write.

His lifelong personal battle is very moving, even with failing eyesight he never gives up. The actor, Hanyu Zhang, who plays Gu Zidi has a great physical presence onscreen giving him a dogged determination and an authority that others bow to.



A different take on a war film, very moving and the actor that plays Gu Zidi is remarkably good.
4/5