After the Final Battle; 决战之后

For advanced learners only.

If you happen to be a contemporary Chinese history bug, you have to watch this movie.

Although to American audience, the most seen Chinese movie genre is without a doubt action/Kung Fu, to mainland Chinese audience, however, it is definitely history/war movies.

This movie documents the lives of a group of highly ranked and decorated Nationalist generals and military officers from the time they were captured by the communists towards the end of the Chinese civil war, up to the point when they received amnesty.

Adapted almost verbatim from writer Huang Jiren (黄济人)'s investigative journalistic masterpiece 将军决战岂止在战场 (loosely translated "To Generals, winnings aren't only determined on the battlefields"). First published more than 30 years ago to critical acclaim, Huang followed up with a much belated part II in 2013, bringing another round of attention. The movie, however, was adapted solely based on part I and was released in the 1980s. 

The final "battle" in contemporary Chinese history generally refers to the conclusion of the three decisive battles of the Chinese civil war (1945-1949) that ended with Mao's communist party/army reigning over mainland and Jiang's nationalist party/army retreating to the island of Taiwan. The three battles are: Huaihai (淮海战役 or Xubang-徐蚌会战 in nationalist history) , Pingjin (平津战役, or 平津会战 in Taiwan), Liaoshen (辽沈战役, 辽西会战 or 辽沈会战 in Taiwan). As you can tell, the two sides never even agreed on the official names of the battles.
Huang's own maternal uncle was among one of those imprisoned generals. Far more than being a subject matter, his connection to all the other high-profile POWs and many more of his previous fellow cadets from the Whampoa Military Academy (黄埔军校, essentially China's West Point and the breeding ground for many top military leaders and strategists for both the Nationalists and the Communists) and the Nationalist colleagues made it possible for Huang to extensively interview the POW generals. They were critical in completing the missing pieces of the historical puzzles, providing alternative interpretation for the same events, what went wrong in intelligence and counter-intelligence. 

Contrary to common beliefs, both sides engaged in significant revisionism although recent decade or so have witnessed much improved communication, collaboration and compromise. What's amazing about this movie is that it was made in the 80s, way before open discussions about what version of history really happened became the norm. Losers not vilified and victors not lionized. Here is to the beginning of objective history.

I can't find a version with full Chinese subtitles. Deepest apologies. However, here's some small consolation: like most Chinese history/war movies, all of the characters, their positions, associated significance and events are spelled out telegram style. 

Enjoy the movie