【電影簡介】

1938年春，侵華日軍新任派遣軍司令官畑俊六陸軍大將，接替了松井石根的統(tǒng)帥權。為一舉打通津浦線，他打算與華北方面軍南北夾攻，合圍徐州。與此同時，國民革命軍第五戰(zhàn)區(qū)司令官李宗仁，冒著硝煙炮火，急速抵達徐州，親自布置戰(zhàn)略，與敵人進行決戰(zhàn)。李將軍力排眾議，起用了代人受過、被民眾斥為"漢奸"的張自忠，同時，將川軍王銘章師收編進自己麾下。不久，在津浦路北線的韓復榘集團軍為保存實力，擅自放棄重鎮(zhèn)濟南，致使津浦線大門洞開。日軍主力磯谷乘虛南下，連克泰安、濟寧、大汶口……蔣介石聞訊，將韓復榘騙至開封扣留，后押赴武昌槍決。日軍坂坦師團為策應津浦線上磯谷師團的正面進攻，占領青島后，沿膠濟線進迫魯南軍事重鎮(zhèn)臨沂，與中國守軍展開激戰(zhàn)，臺兒莊會戰(zhàn)的序幕拉開。臨沂激戰(zhàn)，龐炳勛集團傷亡慘重。李宗仁命張自忠部隊增援。由于張自忠部隊及時趕到，與龐炳勛部隊前后夾攻，打得日寇潰不成軍，保住了陣地。3月15日，日軍磯谷師團不待東南兩路日軍的配合，搶先入關，直撲滕縣，與王銘章的川軍一二二師展開激戰(zhàn)。由于湯恩伯沒有及時增援，致使滕縣失守，王銘章以身殉國。

日軍攻克滕縣，又全力向徐州進犯。李宗仁決定扼守要塞臺兒莊，在這里與日軍展開大規(guī)模決戰(zhàn)。他迅速向孫連仲、張自忠、湯恩伯幾個集團軍下達了命令，并做了周密部署。經(jīng)過與日寇空軍、坦克部隊幾個回合的拼殺，孫連仲部傷亡慘重，三十一師池峰城部張靜波營長又因負傷臨陣脫逃。池峰城激憤之中決定破釜沉舟，決一死戰(zhàn)。他炸掉唯一的退路--運河浮橋，忍痛處決了張靜波。屢遭挫折的日軍改變部署，遂占領了臺兒莊四分之三。但抄后路的湯恩伯卻依然按兵不動，李宗仁以軍法嚴令湯立刻出兵，湯恩伯不得不率部隊從側后向日軍進攻。同時，臺兒莊一線中國守軍全線反擊，日軍磯谷師團陷入重圍。中國軍隊乘勝進擊，全殲日軍于臺兒莊外。第五戰(zhàn)區(qū)司令長官李宗仁向國民軍事委員會發(fā)出電報，臺兒莊大戰(zhàn)告捷。

【音頻文本】

“Battle of Taierzhuang” is a historical and historic film made to mark the fortieth anniversary of China's victory against Japanese Aggression and the end of the Second World War. The filmmakers' attention to historical detail demonstrates their reverence to those who died defending the country. Now as we cherish peace at the threshold of the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, our memory of wartime history threatens to fade with the departure of each living witness. It is reassuring to realise we can still revisit history by turning to this classic film, but it is regrettable that no modern movies have been made which can match their historic and artistic value.

The 1986 war film chronicles the first major victory in the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression. Unlike other war films that emphasise the roles of the people and the Communist Party of China, "Battle of Taierzhuang" was the first to feature the war efforts of the Kuomintang's armies. It offered detailed accounts as to how the Kuomintang leaders and commanding generals overcame disagreements and tremendous difficulties to foil a Japanese offensive operation in East China. The victory cast doubt on the belief that Japan's armies were invincible, and inspired faith in China's resistance efforts.

With no special effects or romantic elements to spice things up, "Battle of Taierzhuang" can still captivate viewers with its documentary-style realism and eloquent imagery. The fully developed script was written after conscientious research into historical facts, but was still subject to repeated amendments. Director Yang Guangyuan was an excellent cinematographer. His shots provided the optimal combination of art and information. One most impressive example is the images of bodies lining the walls of the ancient city, which are a shocking visual translation of the wartime vocabulary "Great Wall of Flesh and Blood."

The historical accuracy extends to the objective description of the Japanese foe, which forms a stark contrast with the works of modern Chinese filmmakers. The latter have come under the influence of Hollywood's superhero complex and often portray the invading soldiers as dummies in comparison to Chinese heroes, which doesn't help the young people of our time understand and respect history, especially when one country involved in the war is trying actively to obliterate the memory of it.

The respect for history and the Chinese people's war effort as depicted in "Battle of Taierzhuang" also helped to improve the relationship between two sides of the Taiwan Strait. It is reported that, after watching the film honouring their resistance efforts, Kuomintang leaders allowed their former fighters to visit their relatives on the mainland.

It is quite surprising how an excellent film can achieve multiple tasks at the same time, but such is the result of the passion and dedication from all people involved. What is even more surprising is how the explosion in box office figures in recent years, while arousing the excitement of plenty of filmmakers and investors, can have no positive bearing on the quality of their products when taken as a whole. Perhaps a crash course in films made in the last century is what they need.

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