My War, a new film depicting the history of the Korean War (1950-53), will hit cinemas in the Chinese mainland on Thursday.
Produced by the China Film Group Corporation, directed by Hong Kong director Pang Chun and starring popular actor Liu Ye and actress Wang Luodan, My War focuses on a group of young people who leave their hometown to take part in the war effort and the bond that forms among them. The film is an adaptation of late renowned writer Ba Jin's novel Tuanyuan (Reunion).
From the 1960s to the 1980s, The Korean War was a popular setting for Chinese war films. Among them, 1964's Heroic Breed was a big hit that influenced a generation.
However, it has been quite some time since major efforts by film studios and filmmakers have been made to capture this part of history.
A promotional clip for the film released earlier this month sparked some controversy online.
In the clip, several elderly Chinese tourists played by veteran actors proudly talk about how they triumphantly entered Seoul during the war in front a South Korean tour guide.
Some netizens have commented that it's inappropriate to make a big deal about something that happened more than 60 years ago, while others worried it may worsen already tense ties with South Korea.
Source: Global Times