Gezhi Town

Gezhi Town follows a ragged group of refugees and weary soldiers who take shelter in a mountain stronghold. At the center is a clever machinist whose practical know how keeps the defenders one step ahead of an advancing Japanese recon unit. As the siege tightens, civilians improvise obstacles, signaling devices, and makeshift fortifications to slow the assault and protect the town's survivors. The stakes rise with dwindling supplies and the relentless cold, and every decision tests loyalties, courage, and the line between resistance and survival. Among the defenders are a former engineer, a nurse who catalogs supplies, and a mother who keeps morale alive by sharing small comforts. The attackers press the pass, forcing a tense balance between evacuation and stubborn defense. The film tracks a community under siege, relying on ingenuity and grit to outpace a trained force.

Directed by Kong Sheng and released in 2025, Gezhi Town draws on Lan Xiaolong's original material, pairing a veteran filmmaker's wartime sensibility with a focus on civilian ingenuity.

The film has grossed about 49.6 million worldwide, signaling solid performance for a wartime drama and showing a robust response to a period piece with broad appeal.

Audience response has been mixed with a 3.6 out of 10 from 13 votes cited in the release notes. It centers on resilience and collective action under siege, portraying civilians and a machinist turning scarce resources into effective defense rather than relying on formal military power. The film invites reflection on leadership under pressure and the value of shared memory for future generations.

Cultural impact is at an early stage for a 2025 release, with no widely cited quotes or scenes yet entering lasting public discourse. The story's emphasis on civilian resilience and improvised defense may influence future war dramas that foreground ordinary people's ingenuity. As a 2025 release, its cultural footprint is still taking shape, with discussions likely to grow as audiences revisit the film's portrayal of civilian defense.