Lü Qi

In an epic tale of theater, gender, love and class, two Beijing opera actors navigate political turmoil as their friendship evolves over decades.

In 1973, Premier Zhou Enlai, diagnosed with bladder cancer, returned to Yan'an after a 26-year absence. The 13 years he spent in Yan'an vividly came back to him. This land had nurtured the Chinese revolution, the People's Liberation Army, and the first generation of CPC leaders, solidifying the Party's leading position. Premier Zhou reflected on the contributions of the Yan'an people to the revolution and worried about the continuing hardships they faced. He urged the local cadres and the "sent-down youth" to contribute to the development of this revolutionary sacred land. The cadres pledged their commitment, and the sent-down youth vowed to put down roots in the yellow earth. Everyone was filled with passion and determination to improve the lives of the Yan'an people. Moved by their enthusiasm and resolve, Premier Zhou, despite his illness (which prevented him from drinking alcohol) raised a toast with everyone, solidifying their shared vow.

In 1985, the Beijing People's Art Theater performed the drama "Savage" written by Gao Xingjian and directed by Lin Zhaohua in the capital. This drama is full of exploratory and tentative nature from the connotation of thought to the form of expression.

This movie made in the 1990's emphasize the urgent need of the legal reform regarding the divorce law, just like the Huge Battle of Divorce (1992), and the difference is that the hidden theme of this movie is concentrated on the settlement after the divorce while the Huge Battle of Divorce (Li Hun Da Zhan) concentrated on the process.

Located somewhere in Beijing, the editorial department of "Guide to the Human World" brings together six intellectuals with distinct personalities. These colleagues encounter all kinds of people amid Reform and Opening-up, with many situations unfolding around them.