China's cinematic resurgence: Korean War epic sets records

Traditionally, on the anniversary of Mao Zedong's proclamation of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949, the authorities have prepared a grand historical spectacle for their compatriots. A film about the heroic struggle of the Chinese army against American soldiers during the Korean War is breaking popularity records.

The wartime production, known in English as "The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death," is another part of the grand historical epic by the once highly regarded Chinese director Chen Kaige. In the 1990s, he won two Palmes d'Or at Cannes for the films "Farewell My Concubine" and "The Emperor and the Assassin."

For many years, the Chinese authorities viewed Kaige's work with great concern. In his films, he drew attention to the contemporary situation in his country. He highlighted how communism and the cultural revolution shook society's national identity, leaving a void after the destruction of centuries-old traditions. However, Chen Kaige has set a completely different goal for himself in recent years. He is creating a multi-part war epic about the Korean War at the party's behest.

The first film in the series was made in 2021. It was titled "The Battle At Lake Changjin." The battle at the Chosin Reservoir, also known as Changjin, took place at the beginning of the war and was part of the second Chinese offensive, which began towards the end of 1950. It aimed to push UN forces out of the northern part of Korea. The campaign was mainly directed against the 1st Marine Division of the United States, which had landed in northeastern Korea and moved inland near the Chosin Reservoir.

Subsequent films by Chen Kaige about the Korean War were released in 2023 and 2024. The director consistently presents China's involvement in the conflict as an act of self-defence and support for North Korean leader Kim Il-sung. In China, the Korean War is referred to in textbooks as a war "against U.S. aggression and in aid of Korea."

"The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death" earned CAD 112.7 million in Chinese cinemas during the holiday weekend. At the same time, the premiere Hollywood blockbuster "Joker" garnered CAD 81.1 million in international markets (even though it was released in almost every country worldwide). The war drama also surpassed other Hollywood hits of the year right from the start, such as "Beetlejuice" and "Dune."