'Gezhi Town' offers fresh take on war film genre

Cast and crew of "Gezhi Town" pose for a photo at the film's premiere in Beijing, Dec. 6, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Askwin]

The film's premiere was held on Dec. 6 in Beijing. Director Kong Sheng noted at the event that this is a war film with distinct characteristics and a unique style, while screenwriter Lan Xiaolong said, "We used as interesting a way as possible to tell a story about something that is actually a very serious matter."

This marks the first film project from Daylight Entertainment, a powerhouse production company behind many acclaimed hit TV series such as "Nirvana in Fire," "Love Me If You Dare" and "Ode to Joy." Hou Hongliang, the film's chief producer and president of Daylight Entertainment, revealed that the "Gezhi Town" project has been in development for a decade.

The film has become an instant hit at the box office, taking in more than 100 million yuan in presales and grossing 170 million yuan in just two days over the weekend.

"Gezhi Town" is also a film commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War this year, joining a slate of other acclaimed films such as "Dead to Rights," "Dongji Rescue" and "Evil Unbound."