Assembly is more than just a war film. Spanning more than ten years, across the Chinese civil war and the Korean war, Assembly follows Gu Zidi, captain of the 139th regiment as he first leads them into battle, and the struggles he faced following to ensure his men received the honour they deserved.
The first hour or so is a truly brutal depiction of war, rivalling even that of Spielberg's D-Day landing in Saving Private Ryan. Th fighting is brutal and holds no punches, yet never feels gratuitous nor propagandising. War here is honest, but it is the second half of the film that is most impactful. After surviving one deadly battle that wiped out more than half his regiment, Gu and his 47 men hold a small mine so that the rest of their comrades may escape, each man hoping to hear the bugle call that will allow them retreat. However 47 men die inside that mine, leaving only Gu held as a prisoner of war by his own army. From here, Gu Zidi's mission is to restore his name, find his men and bestow upon them peace and honour. Thus, we follow him almost ten years as he searches, digs and fights the bureaucracy to grant his 47 men this. The war shown here is honest, but the impacts even more so.
Zhang Hanyu (Gu Zidi) provides a tour de force of a performance, carrying the entirety of the film on his lone shoulders. Together with the honest and ambitious efforts of director Xiaogang Feng, they create a war film like few others. We feel the brutality and sacrifice, the lunacy and the desperation, and the heartfelt regret and grief of each and every man and moment. Outstanding
Assembly is more than just a war film. Spanning more than ten years, across the Chinese civil war and the Korean war, Assembly follows Gu Zidi, captain of the 139th regiment as he first leads them into battle, and the struggles he faced following to ensure his men received the honour they deserved.
The first hour or so is a truly brutal depiction of war, rivalling even that of Spielberg's D-Day landing in Saving Private Ryan. Th fighting is brutal and holds no punches, yet never feels gratuitous nor propagandising. War here is honest, but it is the second half of the film that is most impactful. After surviving one deadly battle that wiped out more than half his regiment, Gu and his 47 men hold a small mine so that the rest of their comrades may escape, each man hoping to hear the bugle call that will allow them retreat. However 47 men die inside that mine, leaving only Gu held as a prisoner of war by his own army. From here, Gu Zidi's mission is to restore his name, find his men and bestow upon them peace and honour. Thus, we follow him almost ten years as he searches, digs and fights the bureaucracy to grant his 47 men this. The war shown here is honest, but the impacts even more so.
Zhang Hanyu (Gu Zidi) provides a tour de force of a performance, carrying the entirety of the film on his lone shoulders. Together with the honest and ambitious efforts of director Xiaogang Feng, they create a war film like few others. We feel the brutality and sacrifice, the lunacy and the desperation, and the heartfelt regret and grief of each and every man and moment. Outstanding
