Gezhi Town
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| Gezhi Town | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Simplified Chinese | 得闲谨制 |
| Directed by | Kong Sheng |
| Written by | Lan Xiaolong |
| Produced by | Hou Hongliang |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Zeng Jian |
| Edited by | Derek Hui |
| Music by | Guo Sida |
Production companies | Daylight Entertainment Co., Ltd. Tianjin Maoyan Weiying Media China Film Group Corporation Yichang Sanxia Media Tencent Penguin Pictures Sina Entertainment |
| Distributed by | CMC Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 122 minutes[2] |
| Country | China |
| Language | Mandarin |
| Box office | ¥412 million RMB[3][4] |
Gezhi Town is a 2025 Chinese war drama film directed by Kong Sheng, written by Lan Xiaolong, and produced by Hou Hongliang. The project has been in development for nine years and marks Daylight Entertainment's first venture into the film industry.[5][6] The film features an ensemble cast led by Xiao Zhan, Peng Yuchang, and Zhou Yiran, with Yang Xinming, Alan Aruna, Gan Yunchen, Zhou Siyu, and Yin Zheng in supporting roles. It is set during the Battle of West Hubei in the Second Sino-Japanese War. The film was released in China on December 6, 2025.
After the fall of Nanjing and a large evacuation, a group of refugees / civilians flee to a remote mountain/small-town area near Yichang (or deep mountain region). They settle in what becomes a small town / refuge zone. The peace is disrupted when a group of Japanese soldiers accidentally enter, causing a confrontation. Led by "ordinary" labor-class people (not professional soldiers), including Mo Dexian, these displaced civilians are forced to defend their home.
Cast
- Xiao Zhan as Mo Dexian
- Peng Yuchang as Xiao Yan
- Zhou Yiran as Xia Cheng
- Yang Xinming as Grandpa Mo
- Alan Aruna as Ma Guofu
- Gan Yunchen as Mei Defu
- Zhou Siyu as Kang Lingbao
- Yin Zheng as Okawara
Production
The film, which tells the story of the Battle of Yichang was filmed in Yichang and surrounding areas in Hubei Province, China. The filming started in mid July 2024 and was completed in October 17th 2024. The crew also sent a letter of thanks to the Yichang Museum for lending out many folk artifacts.[7][8][9]
According to screenwriter Lan Xiaolong, the creation of "Gezhi Town" stemmed from a long-standing friendship among the main creators. The script was completed ten years ago, and the biggest impetus for this collaboration was the long-standing friendship with Kong Sheng and Hou Hongliang. Directors Kong Sheng and Lan Xiaolong conducted multiple on-site inspections to find a filming location that matched the atmosphere of "Gezhi Town," ultimately choosing Yichang as the main filming location. "The mountains and waters here have a unique sense of layering, possessing both the grandeur of the Three Gorges and the simplicity of village dwellings, perfectly matching our imagination of the story's setting." This extreme pursuit of scene authenticity is also a direct manifestation of the "carefree" spirit.[10]
