En Hesen

The People on the Grassland is one of the earliest “minority nationality films” produced in the PRC. It features Mongolian herders who serve the people in the struggle against the forces of the KMT. The film was released in China in 1953 and became particularly well-known for its songs and theme-music.

Summer 1951, the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang. The lives of the border troops and civilians are being threatened by a spy organization.

In the early days of liberation, Kuomintang remnants fled to the Menghe Tibetan region. The government sent Chen Shaohua’s political work team to secure local chieftain Luobu Danzeng’s help against the enemy. Spy Xie Chunfu deceived Luobu Danzeng, causing conflict between the Menghe and Wari people to undermine the Communist Party and plan a counter-revolutionary uprising. Chen Shaohua implemented ethnic policies to win Luobu Danzeng’s support and investigated the spies’ activities. Xie attempted to poison steward Lang Jie, but Lang Jie discovered the plot. Nationalist spies threatened Luobu Danzeng to detain the work team. Chen Shaohua sent Xiao Li and Dali Jie to the military division. The People’s Government advanced into Menghe, prompting Xie to assassinate Lang Jie to eliminate witnesses. Before dying, Lang Jie exposed Xie’s plot to Luobu Danzeng, who apologised and cooperated with the People’s Liberation Army to eliminate the remnants.

Mongolian girl Alima is assigned to accomplish an important mission by CCP. During the mission, her father and fellows are killed by the enemy in a public execution.