On September 4, 2025, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and to honor the revolutionary martyrs and cherish the hard-won peace, the Party Branch of Longan (Guangzhou) Law Firm in Beijing specially organized a special film viewing event—watching “Mr. Ping Shi” a film set against the backdrop of Guangdong’s local history. After the film, there was an on-site discussion with the film’s creative team. Many lawyers from Longan Guangzhou actively participated in this event.

The Legacy of War and Conflict:

A Film About the History of Guangdong During the War of Resistance

The film “Mr. Ping Shi” is set during 1938, when Guangzhou fell under Japanese occupation. Universities such as Sun Yat-sen University and Lingnan University were forced to relocate. The film tells the story of a group of educators led by Huang Jiyu, Wei Zisong, and Du Dingyou from Sun Yat-sen University, who continued to teach despite the war. This is a legendary story of how the cultural heritage of Lingnan continued during those difficult times.

Revisiting the Past through Light and Shadow:

Understanding the Integrity of Scholars During the War in Lingnan

During the film viewing, the lawyers saw the resilience and integrity of intellectuals during the war. Professors protected books during the battle, used torches to light up classrooms, young students decided to serve in the military, and the instrument called “Ziwu” was broken into over a hundred pieces to prevent the knowledge from falling into enemy hands. They also saw the mutual support among people during those chaotic times, as well as the water towns in Lingnan and the natural beauty of northern Guangdong in winter.

Dialogue with the Creators:

A Dual Interpretation of History and Law

The descendants of “Mr. Ping Shi”

Director Gan Xiaoyi

During the post-film discussion, lawyers such as Zhou Junwei, Ye Peng, Gao Guoji, Xie Xin, Ye Junxi, and Zhang Shuyao discussed with Director Gan Xiaoyi the reasons for filming the film, the story behind it, the historical context of the cultural heritage of Lingnan, the details of the film’s creation, how to balance film creation and market demands, and the design concepts for the film’s theme posters. In addition, the descendants of “Mr. Ping Shi” attended the event and watched the film with the lawyers from Longan Guangzhou. They shared their family’s real experiences during those times.

This film viewing event focused on the real history of scholars in Lingnan who preserved their culture in Ping Shi during the war. Through storytelling and dialogue with the creators, it helps the lawyers from Longan Guangzhou remember the efforts of scholars in Lingnan to preserve their culture. It also helps them understand the importance of peace in modern times. In the future, Longan Guangzhou will continue to explore various forms of party building activities, providing professional services to society and adding more humanistic and historical depth to the construction of a law-based society.