On November 18, a seminar on the creation of the TV series "Shangganling" was held, organized by the China Television Arts Committee and the Beijing Broadcasting and Television Bureau.
Still from "Shangganling"
Directed by Liu Wei Qiang and starring Huang Xuan and Wang Lei, the series focuses on the Battle of Shangganling during the Korean War in the autumn of 1952. The battle is renowned because it took place over a mere 3.7 square kilometers, yet within this small mountainous area, forces from China, the United States, and South Korea engaged in fierce combat involving 110,000 troops over 43 days and nights. The courage of the volunteer army, facing relentless enemy fire, captured the attention of the world.
Based on this historical event, the 1956 film "Shangganling" is a classic in the history of Chinese cinema. The TV series that aired this year presents a comprehensive reenactment of the battle from both sides' perspectives, vividly bringing to life well-known figures like Huang Jiguang and Qiu Shaoyun, whose stories are familiar to us from textbooks. "Shangganling" portrays a vivid tapestry of heroic characters, powerfully depicting intense war scenes.
Still from "Shangganling"
Wang Lei, who plays Qin Jiwei, stated that Qin is the soul of the Fifteenth Army. His character can be summarized in four phrases: affectionately strict, lively yet refined, respected without words, and formidable without anger. "I kept these four sayings in mind, passionately completing my filming duties. The spirit of Qin Jiwei’s bold words, his courage, and his determination to stand firm against formidable foes all embody the responsibilities and commitments of a great leader."
Zhao Runan, who plays Shuangxi, commented, "Shuangxi is a soldier who rapidly matures on the battlefield. He starts off liking to go solo, ignoring commands and seeking conflict, but gradually evolves into a deputy company commander who values teamwork, cherishes life, and takes responsibility for every comrade. To portray the People's Volunteer Army effectively, the production team arranged comprehensive military training and studied the Battle of Shangganling in advance, repeatedly watching relevant documentaries and classic old films. Understanding the connections within the script and the continuity between characters was vital for every stage of the production, right up until the final moment of filming."
Producer Yu Dong shared more stories from the production of "Shangganling": "To authentically recreate the wartime environment, we built a one-to-one trench and position in Huailai Tianmo, using mud transported from Northeast China for the set design, striving to replicate every detail of the battlefield's harsh conditions. We have a two-kilometer-long tunnel, and after consulting military experts for recreating it, they advised that the rocks should be granite, so we relaid the tunnel with granite." Many actors dedicated themselves to "Shangganling"; "Wang Lei meticulously studied Qin Jiwei's diary, refining every line of dialogue. Huang Xuan joked that during the three months of filming, he consumed a ton of dirt, as every actor performed their own stunts, with explosions occurring right next to us."
During the expert sharing session, Li Jingsheng, Vice President of the China Radio and Television Social Organizations Federation, remarked, "While 'Shangganling' clearly depicts a specific battle, it reflects the broader context of the Korean War. It illustrates each detail and process of this battle, like a textbook, while also conveying the meaning, scope, and process of the war through a richer narrative."
Hu Zhifeng, Vice President of the China Television Artists Association and a professor at Beijing Normal University, believes that "Shangganling" connects classic memories and cultural recollections that span seventy years.
Professor Zhan Qingsheng from the Military Culture Academy of the National Defense University stated that "Shangganling" combines historical accuracy with artistic fiction, along with a poetic narrative style, presenting a grand yet profound aesthetic that is both magnificent and deeply affectionate.
