Assembly

The film spans the Huaihai Campaign in 1948, when Captain Gu Zidi leads the 9th Company in brutal urban and rural fighting, and continues into the early stages of the Korean War in 1950 as Gu and his comrades carry on their duties. It then follows the long postwar years, where memory, recognition, and uncovering the truth become central to the characters’ lives. The narrative culminates in revelations about the 9th Company and the fate of its soldiers.

Set around a coal mine on the Wen River near Tai'an in Shandong, the story unfolds amid frontline combat and rugged industrial terrain. The mine and its riverbank trenches become a grim backdrop for endurance and sacrifice as PLA troops push back NRA forces. The location ties the soldiers' fate to the land they defend and the memory of those who died there.

🪖 Duty

The narrative centers on the obligations soldiers bear to their unit and to orders, even when those orders clash with personal morality. Gu Zidi's strict adherence to duty leads to controversial actions and severe consequences, highlighting the moral complexity of wartime decisions. The film examines how duty can drive courage and, at times, blind individuals to the human cost of conflict.

🕯️ Memory

Memory and truth are contested as decades pass. The 9th Company's sacrifice is revealed only through survivors' testimonies and later official records, not in the battlefield narrative. The search for remains, the memorials, and Gu's awakening realization illuminate how communities remember war and decide whom to honor.

🤝 Friendship

Gu Zidi's bonds with Wang Jincun and Zhao Erdou anchor the story in human connection amid war. Their loyalty, mentorship, and acts of sacrifice demonstrate resilience when institutions fail to recognize those who fought and died. The film frames friendship as a counterbalance to the violence and indifference of the broader conflict.