Spy thriller set in 1920s hits box-office gold

When asked to helm the film Burning Stars, director Xu Zhanxiong for the first time delved into the history of Shanghai University, an institution that nurtured talents for both the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang during their first alliance to end the era of warlords in the 1920s.

At a recent seminar in Beijing discussing the film, Xu shared his fascination with this lesser-known history, recalling that he chose to frame the story in the form of an espionage tale to retell the university, which was shut down shortly after its establishment of over four years due to the breakdown of the alliance.

With a stellar cast featuring idol Wang Yuan and actress Zhang Xueying, the film has grossed 100 million yuan ($13.7 million) since its release on Dec 7.

Set in 1927, the film revolves around a group of young individuals tasked with a seemingly impossible secret mission: safely escorting a significant figure out of Shanghai during a period of turmoil, marked by terrorism as the Chiang Kai-shek-led Kuomintang conducted a full-scale purge on CPC members following the April 12 Incident.

Huang Jianxin, the executive producer of the film, said that the production encountered many challenges during the filming process in Shanghai in 2022. After rounds of discussions, they concluded that the film's essence lies in portraying young revolutionaries in their 20s who courageously risked their lives for a better future for China, Huang added.

3. Burning Stars features actor Wang Yuan as a young revolutionist. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]