Documentary records memories of China's veterans

Director Song Kunru's new documentary film, Remembering 1950, pieces together the memories of 26 Chinese military veterans. In the documentary, the veterans, now mostly over 80 years old, share their experiences on the battlefield and stories from their youth.

I didn't want to just talk about the battles, which you can find in other outstanding war documentaries, Song said at a media event on Wednesday. I wanted the veterans to talk about their stories, so we could see a fresh perspective on the history.

The crew interviewed nearly 50 veterans over the past four years, but only selected 26 for the final film. According to the director, many veterans were still not ready to discuss their experiences. Also, to his regret, several passed away during the production process and didn't live to see themselves on the big screen.

A poster for the documentary film Remembering 1950. [Photo courtesy of China Intercontinental Communication Center]

I wanted to pay tribute to the veterans and thank them for their sacrifices that have allowed us to enjoy the peaceful and happy lives we have today. Their stories were well worth documenting for the nation, so that people, especially the younger generation, can learn the history from them, he said.

The film will be released nationwide on Sept. 3, 2021.