On September 27, the National Day film "Volunteers: The Battle for Survival" held its premiere in Beijing. Director Chen Kaige, producer Chen Hong, screenwriter Zhang Ke, and actors Zhu Yilong, Xin Baiqing, Zhang Zifeng, Zhu Yawen, Chen Feiyu, and Zhang Youhao appeared after the screening to share their insights and behind-the-scenes stories from the shoot with the audience. The film is set to be released nationwide on September 30.

Group photo of the creators

The "Volunteers" trilogy aims to present the history of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea from a panoramic and epic perspective, highlighting heroic tales that are both inspiring and poignant. Unlike last year's National Day release "The Great Wall", which focused on the reasons behind the war in the context of international rivalry, the sequel "The Battle for Survival" centers on the Iron Original Blockade during the fifth campaign of the Korean War.

With smoke and fire celebrating heroism, this battle saw 25,000 Chinese People's Volunteers confront nearly 50,000 "United Nations" troops head-on. For the enemy, this appeared to be a battle without suspense, evident in their assertion that "Chinese people cannot withstand such an onslaught; when we push back to the Yalu River, there will be hundreds of thousands of Chinese corpses left behind." This not only reflects the arrogance of the "UN" troops but also reveals the grim reality of the Volunteers' insufficient firepower and troop strength. Yet, the forces of the 63rd Army did not allow the enemy to gain an advantage; despite being low on ammunition and certainty, they engaged in closer combat. Facing daunting tasks, they nailed themselves to the frontline, vowing to defend every line and position even as the enemy’s artillery turned the Iron into a sea of flames...

Movie poster

"Time has been shortened, and the movie is completed"

During the premiere, Chen Kaige shared, “The principle of ‘drama shot with action, action shot explosively’ was the foundation I set for this film. This phrase is understood right away; we aim to integrate all the actions, rhythms, positioning, speed, and passion contained in this movie. War is dynamic; even the characters in dramatic scenes should convey a sense of emotional movement to the audience. The action scenes have this even more; filming just the Iron battle took over three months, which was incredibly challenging.”

“What does ‘explosive shooting’ mean? It means we had many elements to control. For instance, regarding the relationship between foreground and background, actors perform in the foreground while background extras must also infuse emotional performances, ensuring a harmonious blend. The filming set had to accommodate constant adjustments, with cameras always in motion. There were even rapid runs alongside numerous explosions and detonations. Can all these elements be perfectly coordinated? It requires immense patience. I calculated that the trilogy had over 12,000 shots in total—typically, an action film has no more than 2,000 shots. What does ‘polishing’ mean? It means honing with time, with our collective patience, and with our desire to create a great film. Eventually, we shortened time, and the film was made,” Chen Kaige remarked.

Chen Kaige speaking at the premiere. Photography by Wang Zheng

“Our behind-the-scenes production team has been following the director for over twenty years. I can proudly say this is a very dedicated, professional, and hardworking team, one of the best in Chinese film production,” said producer Chen Hong, visibly moved during her speech. “Because of our excellent team, the biggest pressure for me was safety. At the Tianmo filming site in Hebei, there were nearly three thousand people at times. Especially during the Iron battle shoots, sandstorms would often hit around three or four in the afternoon, forcing crew members to hold onto their tents tightly... And the actors? When the winds blew through, the wear on each face after experiencing gunfire and smoke was genuinely striking; it could only be said the natural elements provided our team both on and off the set with a shared ‘makeup’.”

“Additionally, because the first and second films were shot together, the total shooting spanned 399 days, with approximately 28 lead actors and over 80 supporting actors, totaling 112 actors. All the actors underwent rounds of selection by the director, who insisted that any actor appearing onscreen must embody the spirit of the Volunteers—simple, unpretentious, and fit. Many actors dedicated almost two years to us; some had to drop out due to other commitments, which posed significant challenges in scheduling," Chen Hong explained.

“‘Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li’ represents countless ordinary Chinese people”

“This is the first time I’ve seen so many people on set since I began my career in film,” said Zhu Yilong, who portrays camp instructor Li Xiang. “It was my first time filming such a scene, and I looked out to see a sea of people. Behind every long shot, there were countless rehearsals. The set felt like a battlefield; as an actor, one can sense many uncontrollable factors. For instance, while everyone knows where the explosions will occur, the dust and debris are unpredictable. How to execute my character’s actions required muscle memory. At the scene, I didn’t think about safety; I just immersed myself in the moment and worked hard to fulfill my performance in that environment.”

Zhu Yilong speaking at the premiere. Photography by Wang Zheng

The felt flower that Li Xiang keeps in his notebook not only connects the stories of the previous two films but also stands as a testament to the sibling bond between Li Xiang and Li Xiao. Zhang Zifeng, who plays battlefield translator Li Xiao, shared that the felt flower has an alias: “It Won’t Die.” “This is a subtle expression from the sister; it embodies her hope that her brother can return safely from the battlefield, a glimmer of warmth and hope amid the brutality of war.”

Zhu Yilong (left) as Li Xiang and Zhang Zifeng (right) as Li Xiao

In "The Battle for Survival," frontline volunteer military strategist Li Mo Yin reunites with his children at Iron. The director specifically gave a close-up shot of the father, played by Xin Baiqing, showing a home key in his open palm, symbolizing the emotional ties of volunteers defending their homeland. The close-up also revealed the calluses on the actor's hand, which Xin Baiqing noted were not faked. “Before filming started, we engaged in military training for a while; we practiced drill, standing at attention, and handling weapons every day, which is why everyone developed calluses over time.”

A family reunion on the battlefield

Chen Feiyu, portraying squad leader Sun Xing, is a survivor of the previous film's battle at Songgufeng and begins the sequel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after enduring harrowing experiences. “Sun Xing’s symptom is amnesia, although his memories still exist; like a rope that has snapped in several places, they can’t connect. Based on this character setup, in the sequel, I perform with a conviction—his psychological trauma stems from watching countless comrades fall beside him, carrying the unfinished missions of every fallen comrade as he continues to fight on.”

Zhang Youhao, who plays Yang Sand, serves as a battle damage recorder in "The Battle for Survival," a role rarely seen in previous Chinese war films. “His task is to record the numbers and names of comrades who sacrifice in battle. I think this is especially meaningful and significant. Otherwise, we might not know how many heroes have fought for our happiness today. I hope everyone can learn more about that history through this film.”

Zhang Youhao (center) as Yang Sand

Where did the names of characters like Li Xiang, Sun Xing, and returning overseas Chinese Zhao Annan come from? Screenwriter Zhang Ke revealed during his speech, “Actually, my director and I considered this during the script development phase, and there is a meaning behind the combination of these names. Everyone can recall what the first sentence of the ‘Hundred Family Surnames’ is: ‘Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li’, right? In fact, they represent countless ordinary Chinese people.”