Ping Gao

Zhao Yiman

The life and death of Zhao Yi-Man, a female member of the Chinese resistance

Land

A small Chinese village. For centuries, here, as throughout the country, the working peasantry lived with the dream of owning land. They rose up against the landlords many times, but never achieved victory. And then the dream came true... Dramatic episodes from the life of this village show us how land reform was carried out.

The White-Haired Girl

Yang Bailao, a tenant farmer, lives with his daughter Xi'er. The despotic landlord, Huang Shiren, attempts to forcibly take Xi'er for himself. On the eve of the Chinese Spring Festival, Huang forces Yang to sell his daughter as repayment of the debt Yang owes him.

Furious Sea Light Cavalry

A film about the expulsion of the Kuomintang from the coastal islands of the People's Republic of China. In the early 1950s, with the aim of liberating Woyushang Island, the naval base headquarters sent the Third Artillery Squadron, commanded by Longjiang Li, to reconnoiter the enemy's firepower deployment. With the help of local fishermen, they defeated two enemy reconnaissance groups, demoralizing the enemy. The enemy transport ship left Chinese territorial waters. The political instructor led the artillery squadron to intercept the enemy ship to prevent it from bringing in reinforcements. As a result, the navy and air force launched a coordinated operation and liberated Voyushang Island.

Unfinished Comedy

Two famous comedians from pre-Revolution days perform a series of sketches in a theatre for a group of Party cadres. The stage performances blend over into absurdist, self-contained fantasy episodes where the two comics allegorically parody Party propaganda and ideological orthodoxy.

Shining with Boundless Radiance

Zhou Mingying, a worker at a power plant in Northeast China, united her fellow workers under the leadership of the Party, overcame all difficulties, demonstrated a high degree of creativity, exposed the enemy's plots and sabotage, and quickly repaired the generators that had been damaged by the Kuomintang, ensuring the supply of electricity.

Ingeniously Taking Mount Hua

After the major campaigns, the Liberation War’s focus shifted to the northwest. Hu Zongnan retreated south, and Fang Zhiqiao led his remnants to Mount Hua, known for its rugged terrain. Fang deployed forces at key passes, but a military intelligence officer, with herbalist Chang Shenglin’s help, cut off enemy communication by reaching the North Peak. A political offensive led to the surrender of the enemy at Qianshi Zhuang, controlling all passages between the North and West Peaks. Trapped, Fang Zhiqiao’s troops, with shattered morale, launched a futile counterattack, leading to his despairing lament.

New Heroes and Heroines

During the early War of Resistance Against Japan in Baiyangdian, Hebei, the Yanling Squad, led by Communist Party member Hei Lao Cai, conducted effective guerrilla warfare. Yang Xiaomei, fleeing abuse from her husband Zhang Jinlong, joined the squad and developed feelings for farmer Niu Dashi. Zhang Jinlong, unable to change, defected to the Japanese. As Japanese sweep operations intensified, Xiaomei, Dashi, and Zhang Jinlong faced different paths in the conflict.