Title: “My People, My Country”: A Mosaic of Memory and Modernity in Chinese Cinema
In the realm of global filmmaking, few works capture the interplay of personal narratives and national identity as poignantly as My People, My Country (2019). Directed by seven of China’s most visionary filmmakers—including Chen Kaige, Zhang Yimou, and Ning Hao—and featuring Wu Jing in a pivotal role, this anthology film redefines patriotic storytelling by anchoring grand historical moments in the intimate lives of ordinary citizens. For international audiences seeking to understand China’s cultural ethos and cinematic innovation, this film offers a profound, multifaceted journey through seven decades of resilience, triumph, and collective memory.
- A Revolutionary Narrative Structure: Seven Stories, One Nation
-My People, My Country* breaks from conventional historical epics by weaving together seven short films, each chronicling a pivotal moment in China’s modern history. From the 1949 founding of the People’s Republic to the 2015 commemoration of World War II victories, the film juxtaposes monumental events with deeply human stories .
Take The Guiding Star, directed by Chen Kaige: two nomadic brothers (played by Liu Haoran and Chen Feiyu) witness the 2016 Shenzhou spacecraft landing, a metaphor for hope in China’s rural heartland. In contrast, Xu Zheng’s Passing Through captures the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics through the eyes of a Shanghai boy torn between childhood infatuation and communal duty to ensure neighbors can watch China’s女排 (volleyball) victory on TV. This mosaic structure allows audiences to experience history not as distant milestones but as lived, relatable moments—a narrative choice rarely seen in Western cinema .
- Wu Jing and the Spirit of Collective Heroism
While Wu Jing’s role in Passing Through is brief, it encapsulates his signature blend of earnestness and understated heroism. As a former athlete coaching children in 1980s Shanghai, his character embodies the quiet determination that defines China’s grassroots heroes. Unlike his iconic roles in Wolf Warrior or The Battle at Lake Changjin, here Wu portrays a man whose “victory” lies not in battlefield glory but in nurturing the next generation—a subtle nod to the intergenerational transmission of national pride .
This choice reflects the film’s broader ethos: heroism is decentralized. In One for All, Song Jia’s fighter pilot relinquishes her spot in a military parade to support her team, while Huang Bo’s engineer in The Founding races against time to ensure the first Communist-era flag rises flawlessly. These narratives reject the Western trope of the lone savior, instead celebrating communal effort—a cornerstone of Chinese cultural values .
- Humanizing History: The Power of Micro-Narratives
Where traditional patriotic films risk didacticism, My People, My Country thrives on emotional authenticity. Consider Hello, Beijing, directed by Ning Hao: a taxi driver (Ge You) grapples with guilt and redemption after gifting his prized 2008 Olympics ticket to a Sichuan earthquake orphan. The story’s humor and pathos—such as Ge’s character boasting about his “connections” to Yao Ming—transform a global event into a personal catharsis, bridging cultural divides through universal themes of loss and generosity .
Similarly, The Eternal Wave shifts focus from the 1949 revolution to a covert radio operator’s final broadcast. The closing scene—a modern Shanghai skyline juxtaposed with his wartime sacrifice—asks viewers to reflect on the invisible labor underpinning national progress. Such storytelling transcends propaganda, inviting global audiences to see China’s history as a tapestry of individual choices .
- Technical Brilliance: A Showcase of China’s Cinematic Ambition
The film’s production scale rivals Hollywood’s finest. For The Founding, director Guan Hu recreated 1949 Tiananmen Square using 3D modeling and 1,500 extras, while Return meticulously replicated the 1997 Hong Kong handover ceremony down to the millisecond precision of the flag-raising . Yet, the true marvel lies in its tonal diversity: the whimsical nostalgia of Passing Through contrasts sharply with the gritty realism of The Protectors, where Song Jia’s飞行员 navigates both aerial acrobatics and gender bias.
This technical and emotional range underscores China’s growing confidence in genre experimentation. As producer Fu Ruoqing noted, the film aimed to “prove that patriotic themes can be both commercially viable and artistically daring”—a mission it fulfills with flying colors .
- Cultural Resonance: From National Pride to Global Dialogue
-My People, My Country* sparked a nationwide movement upon release. Audiences recreated scenes from the film, such as sharing “frozen potatoes” (a reference to Korean War-era hardships) or visiting historical sites like the Shenzhen Deng Xiaoping statue . Internationally, its英文版主题曲 (English theme song) My Motherland and Me—translated by Hubei scholar Qin Jun—went viral, with foreign listeners praising its “melodic sincerity” and cross-cultural appeal .
For Western viewers, the film demystifies China’s collectivist ethos. When Ge You’s character quips, “I’m kind of a big deal,” it’s not just comic relief—it’s a glimpse into the Chinese ideal of humility masking quiet competence. Similarly, the recurring motif of clocks and countdowns (The Founding, Return) symbolizes a nation’s relentless pursuit of punctuality and progress .
- Why Global Audiences Should Watch
- Historical Education: The film illuminates critical yet underreported events, such as China’s 1964原子弹 (atomic bomb) development or the 2015 anti-fascist parade.
- Artistic Innovation: Its anthology format offers a masterclass in collaborative storytelling, akin to Paris, je t’aime but with historical gravitas.
- Cultural Insight: It challenges stereotypes of Chinese cinema as monolithic or state-controlled, showcasing diversity in both style and substance.
- Universal Themes: Love, sacrifice, and redemption resonate across borders, making the film accessible to all.
Conclusion: Redefining Patriotism for a New Era
-My People, My Country* is more than a cinematic triumph—it’s a cultural manifesto. By intertwining personal vulnerability with national pride, it reimagines patriotism not as blind allegiance but as a collective act of memory and gratitude. For international viewers, the film is an invitation to witness China’s history through the eyes of its people: flawed, resilient, and endlessly striving.
As the credits roll, one realizes that the titular “I” and “my country” are inseparable. In the words of the English theme song: “You are the sea that hugs me / Share seashells on the shore.” This film, like those seashells, offers the world fragments of a nation’s soul—each story a treasure waiting to be discovered.
References Integrated:
- Historical structure and anthology format .
- Wu Jing’s role and thematic significance .
- Technical achievements and production scale .
- Cultural impact and international reception .