Cast and crew of the recent blockbuster film “Homecoming” holding a promotion event at PKU (Photo taken on October 7, 2022, Photograph: Vincent Jeong/PKU News)
Written by: Vincent Jeong
Peking University, October 24, 2022: On a cozy Friday afternoon, Director Rao Xiaozhi and three lead actors, Zhang Yi, Wang Junkai and Zhang Zixian, stepped into the Peking University Hall with their latest blockbuster film “Homecoming (万里归途) .” Crowds of PKU students and teachers assembled in the Hall after the class for this special screening of the new film. Buzzing with excitement, the audience sat down to enjoy the newly-released film, before the cast and crew met them to share their filming experiences.
As the autumn breeze arrived, the one-week Golden Week holiday was coming to an end. While people were celebrating the National Day in their own ways, the Chinese film industry released its blockbuster film “Homecoming” in cinemas. It was well-received across China and many audiences were touched by its evocative story. Based on a true event, the film touched upon the cruelty of war and a diplomat’s sense of duty to protect fellow countrymen. With compelling performances delivered by the actors, this film is truly a masterpiece that encapsulated the camaraderie between countrymen, well resonating with the sentiments of all the audiences.
The film was set against the backdrop of the civil war in the fictional Republic of Numiya, where many Chinese compatriots are trapped in the cities under martial law. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs dispatched diplomats to the troubled lands to resolve the situation and bring the people back home safely. Chinese embassy officials Zong Dawei (acted by Zhang Yi) and Cheng Lang (acted by Wang Junkai) embarked on a rescue mission to save the Chinese people trapped near the border and bring them back to the motherland. Along their journey, they encountered different kinds of suspenseful peril and tragedy, as well as love and hope. Dedicated to the China diplomats, the film unveiled a Chinese diplomat’s sense of duty and their riveting commitment to serve the country and protect its fellow citizens.
A promotional photograph of the hit blockbuster film, Homecoming (Photograph: Douban)
Homecoming touched the hearts of the audiences in a myriad of ways. It deeply resonates with the audiences as it reflects traditional Chinese familial values and a strong sense of camaraderie. The strong social ties within the Chinese communities allowed them to overcome many hardships the country faced since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Hence, the sense of community is deeply ingrained in the Chinese people’s character and formed the core value of Chinese society. Many past Chinese films are centered on depicting the lives of soldiers and workers, who shared the same commitment to creating a better environment for their descendants to live in. In the movie, the camaraderie between the two diplomats stood out to the audiences, as they sought to resolve one crisis after another with their wit and collaboration.
Promotional poster of the film Homecoming
In terms of character development, Zong and Cheng can be seen as mirror images of each other. During the film’s promotion event at PKU, Zong’s actor, Zhang Yi claimed that “Zong and Cheng could be considered as equals.” Cheng was a reflection of Zong’s younger self, and Zong acted as a projection of Cheng’s future. Cheng was a passionate but overly idealistic young diplomat that sought justice staunchly whereas Zong was comparatively more jaded but still had compassion within him. The director has done an incredible job of bonding the two characters and depicting the inner conflicts that they experienced in adversities.
This thought-provoking film has also left several questions for the audiences to ruminate over. If we happen to be in danger, how would we react? When faced with a question between life and death, would we have the courage to sacrifice ourselves for the greater good? The film prompted the audiences to reflect upon these poignant questions throughout its plot, and answers to these difficult questions culminate in a life-and-death precipice, just like the game of Russian Roulette the protagonists played in the film. These predicaments demonstrated the strength of the characters and deeply impacted the film’s audiences, who resonated with their strong resolve, sense of comradeship and patriotism.
Vincent Jeong is an international student from South Korea; he is studying international relations at Peking University.
Edited by: Shi Xinyao
