2019-01-18

RUNNING TO THE SPRING，a Tribute of Shanghai to the 40th Anniversary of Reform and Opening Up, Screen

A few days ago, the screening ceremony of the film, RUNNING TO THE SPRING, was held in Shanghai Film Art Center. The film is scheduled to be officially staged in cinemas nation-wide on December 14. Director XIA Xiaoyun, screenwriter ZHANG Ji, and leading actor YANG Kun attend the ceremony to share the creation experience of the film with the audiences.

Novel theme and fresh style

As the tribute to the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up, the core story of RUNNING TO THE SPRING is based on the true story of the implementation of the "Village-level Power List" (referred to as "36 Articles") in Ninghai, Zhejiang. Since the film was launched at the Shanghai International Film Festival in June this year, it has attracted much attention for its novel theme, and has been regarded by the media and experts as the long-awaited film set in the new rural area in the new era of China. The film, with a fresh image style, presents the panorama of the beautiful eastern Zhejiang countryside to the audiences, instead of centering on the most frequently adopted poverty alleviation theme in rural films in recent years.

Reality-based, unsophisticated and touching story

The core story of the film tells the choice and persistence on behalf of the whole village and he himself of FANG Chuntian, the villiage head who is passionate about villager’s wellbeing, facing a series of tough issues involving village-level official affairs, villager management and clan relations, family relations, etc. in the preparation of an international mountain marathon race in the village. The 96-minute story is unfold gradually with no sharp conflicts but the most simple neighborhood friendships and real contradictions and struggles, and depicts the characters and plots in an exquisite, warm and moving manner.

Stage photo of RUNNING TO THE SPRING – FANG Chuntian (ZHANG Duo)

Screening ceremony of RUNNING TO THE SPRING

"All, by my pen, is what I have seen." Young writer ZHANG Ji was born and grew up in Ninghai. He said that the process of creating the script is also the process of re-understanding his hometown and the countryside. "That under my pen and in the director’s lens is the real Ninghai, and the real new countryside.” Director XIA Xiaoyun, repositioning from the urban theme TV series to the rural theme film creation, found the creation direction in real life after over 2 months’ element collection and investigation. “The village cadres impressed me a lot. I hope they can also impress the audiences."

Screening ceremony of RUNNING TO THE SPRING

Joint efforts of Shanghai and Zhejiang promoting the sharing of film and TV resources in the Yangtze River Delta

As one of the key activities of the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival, the launch conference of RUNNING TO THE SPRING was held in Shanghai in June this year. This work based on major realities focuses on the achievements of the current rural grassroots governance and the new rural appearance in a country ruled by the people. As a tribute to the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up, the film has received support and guidance from the Publicity Department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, the Shanghai Municipal Culture, Radio Broadcasting, Film and Television Administration, the Publicity Department of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, and the Publicity Department of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee, as well as key support from the Shanghai Cultural Development Foundation. The film also reflects the role of the Shanghai’s film industry in launching the "four major brands", improving the city\'s service level, further playing the "leading" role and promoting the sharing of resources for film and television creation in the Yangtze River Delta.