Movie brings star power to tale of boy hero

The Shining Red Star, which was produced by the August First Film Studio and premiered in 1974, is a firm favorite among Chinese audiences.

Now a musical with the same title, adapted from the movie, will be staged in Beijing on Oct 28 and 29.

The movie, directed by Li Ang and Li Jun and based on the novel of the same title by Li Xintian, tells the story of a heroic boy, Pan Dongzi, against the backdrop of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

Pan's father joins the Red Army to go to battle and leaves his son a red star, symbolizing the Communist Party of China. Pan's mother dies as a martyr while protecting other comrades.

After his mother's death, the young boy, through his own wits and bravery, helps the Red Army guerrillas, led by the CPC, defeat the enemy, and finally becomes a Red Army soldier, which he always dreamed of being.

With a young creative team averaging around 25 years old, including directors Wang Zhe and Jiang Yadi and scriptwriter Cao Yu, the musical will focus on the boy with an adaptation of classic songs from the movie. New songs will also feature in the musical, adding a contemporary twist to the classic story.

The villain landlord, Hu Hansan, who ruthlessly exploits the farmers, another classic character from the movie, will be portrayed with comedic elements, according to the scriptwriter Cao.