A new espionage thriller "Burning Stars" premiered in Beijing on Dec. 6, blending youthful energy with noble pursuits, and receiving praise from those in attendance.

A poster for "Burning Stars." [Image courtesy of Maoyan Entertainment]

Directed by Xu Zhanxiong, the movie features a cast including Roy Wang, Zhang Xueying, Connor Leong and Li Chen.

"Burning Stars" takes place in 1920s Shanghai, depicting students who courageously go on a top secret mission. The narrative, based on historical events, follows Li Yimin (Roy Wang), a student who joins the Burning Stars Society driven by shared convictions. Over time, Li reunites with former classmates Ding Menghua (Zhang Xueying) and Xu Tianping (Connor Leong). The story takes a dramatic turn following the death of their teacher, Hou Shaolie (Li Chen), which compels Li to undertake a covert mission to evacuate a key figure.

Lead actor Roy Wang at the premiere of "Burning Stars" in Beijing, Dec. 6, 2024. [Photo courtesy of PFDM Media]

Building on this plot, script supervisor Zhang Ji commended the cast's ability to capture the film's core attributes of intelligence, strength and courage, with pop idol-turned-actor Roy Wang as the prime example. "Roy's performance, particularly in the film's climactic last 30 minutes, embodies the spirit of youth from a century ago. His radiant expression and scenes sprinting through firelight truly capture the film's charm," Zhang acclaimed.

Further exploring the theme of courage, Wang articulated: "It's not necessarily about heroic deeds but about facing and conquering challenges, big or small." Zhang Xueying echoed this sentiment, adding: "True courage is complex, involving a deep understanding of the situation and still choosing to act bravely."

To enhance the narrative's resonance with contemporary audiences, especially younger viewers, producer Ren Ning highlighted the thriller's casting strategy. "Our cast members, predominantly born after 1995 and 2000, were chosen for the lead roles to infuse the spy genre with youthful energy and create a unique, thrilling espionage film."

Lead actor Zhang Xueying at the premiere of "Burning Stars" in Beijing, Dec. 6, 2024. [Photo courtesy of PFDM Media]

The film garnered positive feedback from both the audience and critics at the Beijing premiere, including several esteemed filmmakers such as Han Tian, Zheng Dasheng and Shu Huan, who commended the film for its "strong foreshadowing" and "distinctive qualities."

The film's production team's meticulous attention to detail was also highly lauded as they delivered an authentic portrayal of Shanghai in the 1920s. The art department consulted extensively with experts, including real descendants of the story's characters and specialists in Shanghai's social and concession history. The walls of the costume and prop rooms were plastered with verifiable old photographs for various departments of the production team to thoroughly study, allowing them to get a better understanding of Shanghai's urban environment in the early 20th century.

Ren elaborated: "We endeavored to reconstruct then Shanghai University (the educational institution attended by the characters in the film) at a 1:1 scale."

This commitment to authenticity extended to the construction phase, where the team conducted on-site surveys, crafted models and employed traditional methods to ensure accuracy in the textures of interior and exterior walls. They used genuine red bricks that maintained integrity under sunlight and designed windows that sparkled with custom-made stained glass, ensuring that every element of the movie's set contributed to a historically authentic portrayal.

The real Shanghai University was founded in 1922 but was shut down following a large-scale purge of Communists from the Kuomintang (KMT) in Shanghai, which was ordered by Chiang Kai-shek on April 12, 1927. The university was reestablished in 1983 and expanded by merging several other institutions in Shanghai. 

On Dec. 7, the film's cast and crew returned to the original setting of the story, Shanghai University, for a special screening and interaction with the institution's teachers and students, as well as to meet with descendants of real Burning Stars Society members.

The film hit theaters nationwide on Dec. 7, grossing more than 50 million yuan ($6.87 million) over the weekend and allowing a broader audience to experience a critical period of events in 1920s Shanghai.