Synopsis
"Soldiers Sortie" is a 2006 military-themed drama with a 9.5 rating on Douban, directed by Kang Honglei, written by Lan Xiaolong, and starring Wang Baoqiang, Chen Sicheng, Duan Yihong, and Zhang Yi. It tells the inspirational story of Xu Sanduo, a reticent rural soldier who grows into an outstanding soldier through unwavering perseverance and determination, influencing the values of a generation of Chinese youth.
Overview
"Soldiers Sortie" is a military-themed television series produced in 2006 by the August First Film Studio and Huayi Brothers, directed by Kang Honglei and written by Lan Xiaolong. Wang Baoqiang plays the protagonist Xu Sanduo, with actors such as Chen Sicheng, Duan Yihong, Zhang Yi, Zhang Guoqiang, Xing Jiadong, and Li Chen joining the cast. The entire series consists of 30 episodes, premiered in December 2006, and holds a Douban rating as high as 9.5, making it one of the highest-rated works in the history of Chinese television dramas.
The series centers on the growth journey of Xu Sanduo, a seemingly foolish rural soldier, narrating how he transforms from a soldier despised by everyone into an elite soldier, step by step, relying on an unyielding spirit of "never abandoning, never giving up." The entire show features no female characters and no romantic plotlines, focusing entirely on military camp life and the camaraderie among soldiers, yet it created a ratings miracle and became a cultural phenomenon.
Plot
Xu Sanduo (played by Wang Baoqiang) is a simple-minded young man from the countryside. His act of raising his hands in surrender upon seeing a tank even before entering the military camp earns him the strong disdain of Steel Seventh Company Commander Gao Cheng (played by Zhang Guoqiang). After enlisting, Xu Sanduo becomes the laughingstock of the entire company due to his clumsy performance and is assigned to the remote Red Third Company, Fifth Squad, to guard the training ground.
In this forgotten corner of the Fifth Squad, Xu Sanduo does not follow the crowd. He insists on daily drills, tidying up the barracks, and building roads, practicing the belief of doing meaningful things through the simplest actions. He single-handedly builds a gravel road, and his perseverance moves everyone. With exceptional physical fitness and relentless effort, Xu Sanduo is selected to join the elite unit, Team A.
In Team A, Xu Sanduo encounters the devilish instructor Yuan Lang (played by Duan Yihong). Yuan Lang is strict but fair, honing every special forces soldier through近乎残酷的训练方式. Xu Sanduo undergoes the most severe trials here but also gains the most sincere camaraderie. Shi Jin (played by Zhang Yi) is Xu Sanduo's most important guide in the military camp; it is his "never abandoning" attitude that helps Xu Sanduo find his own value.
Cheng Cai (played by Chen Sicheng) is Xu Sanduo's fellow villager and comrade-in-arms, clever and quick-witted but overly utilitarian. He is willing to abandon his comrades for personal advancement, forming a sharp contrast with Xu Sanduo's simple perseverance. Their different choices ultimately lead to截然不同的人生轨迹.
Cast
| Actor | Role | Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Wang Baoqiang | Xu Sanduo | Simple-minded but tenacious rural soldier, never abandons, never gives up |
| Chen Sicheng | Cheng Cai | Clever but utilitarian fellow villager and comrade-in-arms |
| Duan Yihong | Yuan Lang | Devilish instructor of Team A, strict yet fair |
| Zhang Yi | Shi Jin | Xu Sanduo's guide, kind-hearted squad leader |
| Zhang Guoqiang | Gao Cheng | Commander of Steel Seventh Company, outwardly cold but inwardly warm |
| Xing Jiadong | Wu Liuyi | Veteran of Steel Seventh Company, strong-willed character |
| Li Chen | Wu Zhe | Member of Team A |
Cultural Impact
"Soldiers Sortie" is a rare全民现象级作品 in the history of Chinese television dramas. The six words "never abandon, never give up" transcended the show to become the most popular catchphrase of 2007, influencing the values of a generation of Chinese people. Many young people chose to enlist in the military because of this series, leading to a参军热 across China.
Wang Baoqiang rose from an unknown extra to a nationally renowned star through his role as Xu Sanduo. His success奇妙地呼应了 Xu Sanduo's story—a simple young man from the countryside who realized his dream through perseverance and hard work. Duan Yihong's portrayal of Yuan Lang and Zhang Yi's portrayal of Shi Jin also became some of the most classic military images on the Chinese screen.
The golden combination of director Kang Honglei and screenwriter Lan Xiaolong later collaborated on "My Chief and My Regiment" (2009), which also received extremely high praise. Lan Xiaolong's trilogy ("Soldiers Sortie," "My Chief and My Regiment," "Life and Death Line") is collectively referred to as Lan Xiaolong's War Trilogy, representing the pinnacle of Chinese military-themed film and television works.
References
- Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/2154096/
- Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/士兵突击
- Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/士兵突击
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