'Gezhi Town' offers fresh take on war film genre

The new war film "Gezhi Town," starring Chinese actor and singer Xiao Zhan, delivers a unique story with dark humor, chronicling an ordinary man's fight to survive in a battle during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

Actor Xiao Zhan attends the premiere of "Gezhi Town" in Beijing, Dec. 6, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Askwin]

The film is written by renowned screenwriter Lan Xiaolong, directed by Kong Sheng and produced by Hou Hongliang, starring Xiao Zhan, Peng Yuchang and Zhou Yiran. It tells the story of factory worker Mo Dexian, who flees into the mountains with his family as part of a group of refugees, eventually settling in Gezhi Town alongside a forgotten anti-aircraft gun squad and their Solothurn cannon. However, their peaceful life is shattered by the unexpected arrival of a small squad of Japanese scouts. Cornered and facing a dire threat, the townspeople refuse to retreat, and rise in a seemingly impossible defense of their home, which erupts into a deadly battle of civilian wit and collective will against a formal Japanese military force.

Unlike traditional war films with grand narratives, "Gezhi Town" is told from the perspective of ordinary people and infused with dark humor. This approach manages to make the audience laugh in some scenes while also bringing heartache and tears as they grasp the cruel reality behind the characters' desperate struggle to survive.

Xiao Zhan explained to China.org.cn how the character of Mo Dexian attracted him. "He is a bit unorthodox, and at times, of course, I think this is because he carries the psychological trauma from the war. Actually, I believe Mo is a person with great resilience. No matter what environment you throw him into, he can actually live quite well."

The actor emphasized the film's message: "Everyone has their own family. It is the millions of 'small families' that together form our 'greater family.' And it was the millions of individuals like Mo Dexian who rose up and defended their homes, that made our peaceful lives today possible."

Xiao hopes the audience can find their own inner connection within the film's story and feel the weight of responsibility on their shoulders.

His performance has been applauded by critics and audiences alike. Besides taking on the role as lead actor, Xiao also sings the film's theme song.