"In that land, history is everywhere — in the words, memories and even objects. Many have fathers or grandfathers who died for the revolution, including those who were working undercover. It touched me deeply," Chen says. The villagers welcomed the crew warmly, forming bonds she will never forget.
Filming took nine months in western Fujian, Hebei, Shanghai, and elsewhere, all real sites. Many scenes unfolded where Mao, military leader Zhu De, and others once stayed. Local extras gave standout performances, motivated by respect for history rather than just the production.
Two months before shooting, the cast and crew lived in western Fujian to study scripts and train in horseback riding and shooting. "I told the actors not to 'act' — but to truly feel what their characters would feel," Chen says.
Wang Zhifei, who plays Zhu De, recalls, "Every day we walked from one mountain ridge to another, following paths the pioneers took. Falling and injuries were common. I kept wondering: how did they overcome such hardships to march toward glory?"
Wang Zhifei's words echoed the entire team's spirit. For eight months, they trekked the dense forests and winding trails, feeling the toughness of revolutionary struggle firsthand.
Chen also aimed to connect with young viewers, noting the generation depicted was itself young. "How can we make this an inspiring youth story? They were also a 'boy band' — a revolutionary boy band of their time," she says.
More than a historical tribute, Glorious Struggle serves as a public lesson, a reminder that today's peace was earned through past sacrifice, and that each generation must remain clear-eyed and courageous in protecting it.
