Original subtitles

Students!

We won the European war

but failed to win back our lands.

Our country...

Is on the verge of demise.

Today...

We shall change history.

Our movement

is the harbinger of a greater China.

So right now,

participating in this revolution

infuses us...

With immense pride and glory.

Give us back our sovereignty!

Punish the traitors!

Give us back shandong!

Punish the traitors!

Did you have to do that yourself?

I wanted to.

That's the real chen duxiu.

What do you want to do?

To get out of classrooms

and into jail.

To get out of jail

and into classrooms.

Why not?

What indeed do you want to do?

After the may fourth movement,

I've been moping

and brooding.

I needed a release.

You can't be so willful.

You're a leader,

not a teenager.

Who could have imagined this?

The may fourth movement,

which was started by intellectuals,

was supported by the whole country:

Students,

citizens,

even businessmen,

and especially workers in Shanghai.

This raging fire we've started

has blazed a trail.

This is a historic first in China,

an inestimable first,

an exhilarating first.

Hope is on the horizon.

Don't you see?

You mean...

We need a national organization

to promote and materialize it.

Our mission...

Has just begun.

The warlords want me dead.

I want China to live!

You're right.

Our mission has just begun.

Just begun!

Beijing isn't safe.

Go to Shanghai.

That's a magical place.

I hope...

Miracles will happen.

With you in the south

and me up north,

we'll work together

to break new grounds.

Mao.

Have you saved enough to go abroad?

Not yet.

Oh, I forgot to tell you.

Your roommate wang

just came to look for you.

He said...

A Beijing teacher came for you.

Beijing?

Yes, he said he's from Beijing u.

The surname is... chen.

Chen duxiu.

A lady teacher?

2 Lao yuyangli.

Got it.

Mao.

Mr Yang changji told me

when you were

at the age of 17,

you left private tutoring

for a new school

outside your village.

I still remember

you came to Beijing u in 1918,

right?

Sir,

I wanted to broaden my horizon then

in order to save our country.

11 years flashed by,

but I've done nothing.

Today, I'm still searching.

According to li zhong,

you applied for work-study in France?

Not anymore.

Russia is better than France,

but Russian is too hard to learn.

Translated texts are easier.

I can learn more in less time.

Well...

Look no further.

Come, come with me.

Come.

Translated by chen wangdao.

For li hanjun and me to proofread.

The communist manifesto in translation.

In Beijing u,

I read the extracts countless of times!

Sun failed to protect the constitution.

A lot of revolutionaries

were sent to jail.

But why?

Our past experiences

have been cutthroat.

They have taught us a lesson.

The strength of an individual province

is no match at all

against the northern warlord government.

Think for a moment.

Why did the Russian revolution succeed?

What's the reason?

The guidance of marxism.

The guarantee of bolshevik backup.

Once you get this,

you can create a new world.

From nothing to something,

from small to big and weak to strong.

Mao,

the time for change in China is near!

Mr chen, are you sure?

Of course, I'm positive.

When?

Next year.

Next year.

Good day. Good luck.

Number 36.

Good morning.

Morning, sir.

I'm here for my visa to Shanghai.

Surname?

Sneevliet.

Where from?

Moscow.

Who's your contact?

Where's the organization?

Ask your kaiser.

Why 3 identities?

Why?

Russian revolution won't work in Vienna.

I'll ask you one more time.

Tell me your contact and organization.

Truth be told, there aren't any here.

I've already had my visa to Shanghai

and will leave by sea in a few days.

But if you insist on me staying,

then I'll have to see

if there's something I could do.

Superintendent's here.

Sir, he said he's going to Shanghai.

Shanghai?

Stop the interrogation.

But we have to...

He's not under our jurisdiction.

Let him go immediately.

If need be,

but do inform the relevant consulates.

"Dutch consulates in Colombo, padang,"

"Singapore and Hong Kong, attention!"

"The radical sneevliet is traveling"

"to Shanghai on I'aquila."

"Consulate in Shanghai, pay attention"

"and notify the relevant authorities."

Laborers are sacred!

Treat workers well!

Laborers are sacred!

Treat workers well!

Reopen the factory!

What should we do?

The Chinese language is innocent!

Mr qihan.

In principle,

we Chinese shouldn't fight our own kind.

However,

I'm a cop.

It's my job to make you leave.

The workers have lost their jobs,

with no money to feed their families.

Yet, they don't care.

We've been left with no choice.

You don't agree?

Yes, I agree.

But, this is the French concession.

My words mean nothing.

I mean...

Look at the foreigner over there.

If you make him angry

and start a fight,

that's no good to anyone.

This place belongs to the Chinese!

Belongs to the Chinese!

Sir, don't make my job more difficult.

I'll give you another half hour,

then tell them to leave.

Thank you.

This place belongs to the Chinese!

I've been an inspector for 10 years.

In another 180 days, I'll be

the first Chinese inspector general.

In the following 6 months,

cut me some slack.

Whatever it is,

don't cause trouble.

Talk all you want,

but don't go on strike.

Don't disrupt law and order.

Don't worry, mr huang.

The rickshaw union won't cause trouble.

Ok.

The pier union won't either.

We can work with that.

If the workers are to take actions,

we can't do anything about it.

Did I not make myself clear?

You were clear,

but...

If it's clear,

I won't waste any more of your time.

Need to get to work.

Violence breeds violence.

Advocating violence

will only create a new violent regime.

Not true.

That's called proletarian dictatorship.

It represents the laborers' interests.

I disagree.

Stop bickering.

We intellectuals resort to reasoning.

He's unreasonable.

It's a matter of principles!

Even so, you still shouldn't bicker.

We fight too.

You two are always like this,

bickering and fighting every time.

Mao, continue.

Russia's October revolution

is the perfect example.

The dreams you have

are so remote. They'll never come true.

For my dreams,

I'm willing to wait a millennium.

Wait a millennium?

What should our generation do?

Our country and our nation can't wait!

Our people can't afford to wait!

If we put everything into it,

we'd only need 30

or maybe 40 years

to completely transform China.

- Really? - Dream on.

Of course.

I'll support you.

Everyone,

if within our lifetime,

we could realize this dream,

it'd be our greatest fortune.

Right.

Your millennium is just bull.

What did you say?

Dream on.

You want a bet?

Sure, on what?

Smoking, 3 packs in a row.

He doesn't know how to smoke.

Here, practice with my pipe.

Sure you want to shave it all off?

Yes, all of it.

Becoming a monk?

A married man.

Congratulations.

- Congratulations. - Thank you.

- Bye. - See you.

Still ogling? Haven't you seen enough?

Show some respect.

From now on,

you should call me uncle.

I'm representing your in-laws.

- Auntie, here. - Food is ready.

Ok.

Put this on.

Come on over.

Stand here.

Have you sent the letter to shi cuntong?

Don't worry. It's sent to Japan.

She's becoming your secretary.

Don't talk shop today.

Got it?

Ok.

Yanbing, start the music.

Ok.

Zemin, come over and take a picture.

Ok.

The best man and bridesmaid go there.

Go on.

Come here.

I pronounce

the wedding of li da and wang huiwu

officially begins.

- Now. - Ok.

Everyone, look at me.

W ait.

3, 2,1.

Royal beauties from Russia.

Come have some fun when you're off.

Your wife or sister?

Royal beauties from Russia.

Royal beauties from Russia.

Royal beauties from Russia.

Better fewer, but better.

According to the latest decision,

all meetings of political groups

must be registered 48 hours in advance.

That man from Holland,

find him immediately!

How're you paying for the delivery?

By collect. Thank you.

Ok, done.

Officer.

Kishibe.

This way, please.

Yes.

I've heard the tokko would set up a unit

in the Shanghai consulate in the fall.

Chief.

Chinese student shi cuntong has sent

yamakawa's manuscript on communism

to a man called li da

in Shanghai.

Shanghai?

Yes.

That's our handler?

After the Russo-Japanese war,

Russian communists overthrew the tsar.

The spread of communism

to the fareast

will affect our manchu-mongol policies.

According to our intel,

comintern's special agents

will meet our communists in Shanghai.

Okawa.

Yes.

You learnt shanghainese, right?

Yes.

Go to Shanghai and find the identities

of their Japanese contacts.

Do what you must to find out.

Yes.

Class struggle.

Class struggle.

Hi! I'm happy to be learning in Moscow.

We're the first Chinese students here.

- When are we leaving? - The day after tomorrow.

We're fans of the fareast university.

Stop!

Everyone, stop!

- You can't do this! - You stop now!

- You can't do this! - Stop!

You have no rights to do this!

Confiscate everything!

Class struggle.

Qihan, say it.

Class...

Let everyone go home. Hurry!

What's wrong?

What is it?

The police are coming.

Qihan, you lead the three of them

and leave from liu's home.

Ok?

Yes. Follow me.

Follow him.

Students, come with me.

In a line.

Quickly.

No one leaves.

Go back.

Students, go back in.

Be careful, all of you.

Be careful.

Li da?

Li da?

This place has been sealed.

Students leave first!

Leave now, hurry up.

Students, it's ok.

Leave now.

Everything will be fine...

It's definitely safer to move away.

But it means

I'd have no one to talk to.

When is mr chen coming back?

To chen duxiu, this home of mine

is just a hotel.

Unlike you.

You have your groom 24/7

"the communist" magazine is his bride.

When he's focused, nothing else matters.

I am just a perfume in the air.

Eh?

You can smell it, but can't see it.

What's so funny?

The flowers. Better get them.

Put this inside.

Slowly.

See you, sis.

Sis, please go back inside.

We'll visit you.

How's the funding for our next issue?

Mao has sent us a letter from hunan,

saying the magazine is very popular.

He wants 30 more.

It'll be fine.

I'll just translate another book

and pay the deposit from that.

So we're also paying for the revolution?

We'll get it back...

Stop there!

- We've got magazines. Hurry up. - Stop!

Stop right there!

Are you deaf?

What are you transporting?

Good day, sir.

My friends just got married,

and they're moving into their new home.

Yes, just married.

Why don't you congratulate them?

Congratulations on your wedding!

They said congratulations.

- Thank you very much. - Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

It's raining.

Better take cover quickly!

Fabulous.

Run.

The magazines are getting wet.

If only we could fix this up a bit.

Extra cash should be spent on the paper.

What are you two looking at?

By the way,

comintern's comrades have arrived.

We're meeting them tomorrow.

Great.

Dry yourself.

I'm fine.

Spinning top.

Spinning top.

Henian,

go play outside the door.

Don't go too far!

I know, I know.

Kiddo,

you got a brother called li da?

I have 3 brothers, but no li da.

We don't have the same mother.

Henian!

Dinner's ready.

Ok.

The police want this man.

Have you seen him?

Good evening.

- I'm li da. - Nice to meet you.

- I'm li da. - Nikolsky.

Sneevliet.

I've seen him.

But he wasn't using that name.

Which room?

409

Who is it?

You booked a car?

You going out?

I didn't book a car.

Come on!

Move!

Out!

That's my car!

What the...?!

Want to die?!

You know how to drive?!

Are you blind?!

Crazy!

Get in.

It's ours.

What are you doing?

You're home.

Yeah.

These are the meeting's invitations

as requested by mr chen duxiu.

You just need to fill in the addresses

before sending them out.

Ok.

How's the talk with the comintern rep?

We had differences.

Oh, right.

Li hanjun offered to let us

hold the congress at his home.

And we need your help to book hotels.

Ok.

I'm going upstairs.

I've bought some dessert dumplings.

Try some.

They are still hot.

What were you thinking?

When we were against yuan shikai

signing the 21 demands with Japan.

My group boycotted anything Japanese.

We burnt everything made in Japan.

I was leading.

But when I stroke that match

and saw that they were made in Japan,

do you know how I felt?

I froze.

My mind went blank.

I felt utter despair.

We're such a large country

but couldn't make our own fire.

It's so depressing.

Changes are happening.

Yes.

Yes.

Let me sing a song for you.

Arise,

those who are being damned,

all the outlaws and slaves in the world!

Our messy rationality is about to boil.

Prepare to die in the last ditch.

Come on.

Thank you.

This shouldn't have happened.

It's nothing.

But even after I was beaten up,

I was warned

what happened in the settlement

was not the concession's business.

Then let's stay out of it.

Li da.

Sis.

What is it?

A weird man has asked about you

at yuyangli several times.

So be careful.

Asking about me?

I just came to tell you.

I'm going.

Why don't you come in?

No, thanks.

Go back inside.

Go.

Stop burning.

Stop burning!

Fellow students!

Fellow teachers!

Books are our lifeblood!

They're burning our books.

Burning our future!

Burning our lives!

Emperor qin has been eternally condemned

for burning books and burying scholars.

By burning books today,

you shall get divine retribution!

You shall get divine retribution!

- Arrest all of them! - Eternally condemned!

He huzi!

- Arrest him. - Run!

He huzi!

What?!

I'm not scared of them!

Stop the police!

- Run, now! - Who's still moving?

Xiao zisheng.

That's what you meant by a millennium?

Just you wait.

It'd never work with the warlords.

You'll smoke 3 packs of cigs tonight

and choke to death!

The more they act like this,

the more it proves my point.

The real truth

isn't proved by a single event.

Stop bickering!

Look around you!

He huzi,

let me tell you some good news.

Li da has sent us a letter.

Mr chen duxiu

invited us to the meeting in Shanghai.

I still need to buy books.

Go buy them!

The targets of the northern expedition

are Japan and the warlord government.

As long as foreign powers accept them,

Chinese people will continue to suffer.

A government truly led by Chinese people

will take longer to come true.

What do you think?

If the northern expedition attacks

wu peifu instead of the Japanese,

the northern armies might unite together

and push zhang zuolin to the Japanese.

Inter-provincial autonomy is very good.

We can make guangdong her best possible.

But focusing only on ourselves

will break up the country eventually.

- Let go. - Mr chen.

Mr chen, mr sun and commander chen

are in a meeting.

You can't go in.

Move! I'm here to see exactly them!

We try to end the war

with the northern expedition.

Mr sun.

What's the emergency, mr minister?

Mr sun,

commander chen promised me

10 percent of the budget for education

to build new schools and fix old ones.

You can't use it

for the military.

Zhang jingjiang and Jiang jieshi

are operating the funds in Shanghai.

The money will be moved here soon.

Without the budget,

there will be no schools,

and I would have to resign

from the board of education.

Not allowed.

Did I ask you?

What's the point of asking you?

Your words mean nothing.

- You... - Calm down, mr chen.

There's always a way.

Mr sun,

this is my first time here

to say hello to you.

You said it yourself:

Education is very important;

it is the future of a country.

I also believe in that!

Therefore,

I'll keep coming to see you

until 1 get my budget.

I'll leave now.

The union of Chinese students in France,

the Chinese labor union,

and the Chinese labors magazine

have confirmed to work with us

and start action on national day.

We have made the arrangements

and contacted 3 newspapers

to follow and report on this action.

Dr mimeograph,

are all the flyers printed?

Done.

Thank you, little comrade.

It's nothing.

But, just one thing.

When can I join you guys?

What's the rush? You're still young.

Learn French first.

I'm 17 already.

Wait. I'll bring another bag of flyers.

Ok.

Comrades, a letter from Shanghai.

They'll call the first national congress

to establish a unified communist party.

Then we must send reps too.

We must go.

It takes more than a month by ship.

Can we make it?

I don't think we can.

There's no time.

What a shame.

Comrades.

Doing what we have in our hands

will be the best way to support them.

Agreed?

They're too ruthless.

They even attacked mr li.

They're a bunch of mad dogs.

Garbage!

Excellent.

My pact with duxiu is happening.

Mr chen,

the congress can't happen without you.

For the moment,

I'm on poor terms with commander chen.

I won't go anywhere without my budget.

Just choose another rep.

That's it.

Hey.

They ask us to send 2 reps from Beijing.

Sir, may I go?

You're good at english and theories. Ok.

Zhang guotao.

Are you willing to go?

Of course.

But sir,

you must attend the congress.

The salary protest is at a vital stage.

Teachers' salaries aren't confirmed.

Plus school is busy.

I won't go this time.

Now...

Take me back to the protest.

Can you not go?

What?

Can you not go?

I'm just saying.

Ok, leave now.

I don't need you around.

There's no rush...

Still 6 minutes left.

No rush at all.

Zedong.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

- Hello. - Hi.

Any discount for chamber of commerce?

Sure! How many rooms?

About 10 or more.

How many days?

Maybe about a week.

Excuse me.

I'm sorry.

Sorry, I'm...

Thanks.

We'll check out another hotel.

- Let's go. - Why?

Didn't we agree?

I can give you the best discount.

When did the checks become so strict?

Why didn't we book?

Are you dumb?

You want your boyfriend arrested?

Oh, right...

Zhou fohai is replacing shi cuntong.

When will he arrive in Shanghai?

Around mid-July.

Keep following him.

Boss, I don't have the pass to go there.

I'll pay you extra.

Ok.

Stop. Show me your pass.

I don't have one.

Boss, I told you my licence couldn't go

to the international settlement.

Show me your licence.

Hurry up.

Right away...

Li.

Stop.

I need to change a word.

We came in illegally. It's dangerous.

Plus platemaking's been set.

It's my fault. My translation was wrong.

But it's important.

I'm sorry.

Dixian, we need to change a word.

Which word? Hurry.

Change "citizens" to "people."

Is there a difference?

Of course.

It's just semantics.

Citizen is generic. People are masters.

They're similar but in effect different.

Ok.

I trust you.

Change it, quick - thank you.

Luo, the printing blocks.

It's chaotic outside.

If the meeting is still at li's home,

we better stay at Bowen girl's school.

Sure, it happens to be summer vacation.

Plus headmistress huang is easy going.

I can't. I get nervous when I lie.

My face turns red and I will sweat.

She'll know I'm lying to her.

You don't need to lie.

But if the police go and investigate,

she's too conscientious to lie.

Plus if we bring her into this,

it won't be right.

Then before you go, go for a jog.

Jogging will help you relax.

You're there.

Sis.

Yes?

Li da's friends...

- Really? - Are coming to Shanghai...

And would like to rent the school...

Too forced.

Your eyes...

You kept looking up and down.

Try again.

Beijing u's summer holiday tour.

Again.

Beijing u's summer holiday tour.

Don't blink so much.

Continuous blinking is a sign of lying.

You should look the person in the eyes.

Beijing u's summer holiday tour.

Again.

Beijing u's summer holiday tour.

Better. Again.

Sis.

Li da's friends

are coming to Shanghai

and would like to rent your school

as a dorm.

Would that be possible?

Perfect.

It's fine.

Anyone who cooks and guards there?

Janitor Yang lives there.

He can cook for the teachers.

Why are you sweating?

Nothing. Just moved by your kindness.

Thank you, sis!

That's a bit much.

It's not free of charge.

It's not about the money, sis.

Thank you. Don't let me keep you. Bye.

Bye.

Car.

Shanghai club.

Hello, sir.

I'm liu renjing.

Mr liu from Beijing.

Yes.

Mr deng, mr wang.

Mr liu from Beijing is here.

- Come, let me. - No...

Let me...

I'm still young. Just call me renjing.

Mr liu...

Come in.

Mr liu.

Mr liu, I'm wang jinmei from shandong.

It's been a long time. Remember me?

Of course.

Mr Marx junior.

You're finally here. This way.

Please.

Don't be so courteous.

As we have agreed,

we're on a first-name basis from now on.

The Chinese communists in Shanghai

will hold a party congress on June 30,

with reps from Beijing, Shanghai,

Guangzhou, jinan, hankou, changsha...

Send a telegram to okawa.

Let him identify the Japanese

attending the meeting in Shanghai.

Yes.

Also, youichi shigeta is in Shanghai.

He's been involved in violent incidents.

Be extra careful.

I wanted to ask you last time.

During the may fourth movement,

did you really jump into cao's garden?

What else did you hear?

- We've heard lots of your stories. - Let me tell him.

In shandong, you're all heroes.

Yeah!

I heard hundreds of you were there.

The Paris peace treaty is humiliating.

Fight off foreigners! Fend off traitors!

Protect shandong!

Protect our boundaries!

Protect our sovereignty!

Students, this is cao's mansion.

The traitor is inside right now.

Cao rulin, get the hell out here!

Yes!

Cao rulin, get the hell out here!

Get the hell out!

There's a stump!

Knock the door down!

1, 2, 3, come on!

1, 2, 3, come on!

1, 2, 3, come on!

We also heard

you burnt down his house.

So satisfying.

I heard that afternoon

zhang zongxiang peed his pants in fear.

Yes. Legends and imaginations.

That's how I believe it happened.

Sir.

I've located the 2 Dutch extremists.

Did you catch them?

After I've found them,

it took half an hour

to completely lock down the hotel.

They escaped again.

Find them and get hold of them.

Many factories plan to go on strike.

Some group must be behind them.

Investigate thoroughly.

We need to nib it at the bud.

There's no meeting on June 30.

The police could have mistranslated

"July" in the Russian intel intercepted.

In Russian, the two words

look almost the same.

I've bumped into eizo kondo in Shanghai.

I've begun an investigation on him.

I've learnt much from our chat today.

I'd never forget.

Me too.

This way, please.

Why did you meet the reps on your own?

There's nothing to it.

I was communicating.

You should have informed us.

I just gave them a brief report

and also asked for some advice.

We've already agreed

they're not joining our discussion.

They're not joining our discussion,

just attending the opening and closing.

Ok?

Just advice?

Report?

Advice? Attending opening and closing?

Why not invite them to the whole thing?

Well.

Let me ask you,

do we not need funding?

We do.

We both know that.

Is a tactic to smooth our relationships.

Those are two different things.

"New youth" was shut down

and moved to Guangzhou.

Mr chen duxiu is personally in charge.

That's what I call a tactic!

That's a dead end.

Sit down.

I'll read you some fresh words of wisdom

by lu xun.

The one who wrote "a madman's diary"?

That's right.

Listen.

"I think...

"Hope is intangible: It might be there;

"it might not be there.

"Just like the road ahead:

"It doesn't really exist

"until the steps of many people

"make it a path."

You get it?

The ideas of the international reps

are different from ours.

The path China will take

must be trodden by ourselves.

We can't lead future followers astray.

It's a matter of directions.

It's a matter of principles.

Buy 200 shares at 176!

Buy 2000 at 190.

Wouldn't that be too high?

Let's gamble. Sell it all at 200.

Buy 2000 shares at 190!

Sell 1200 shares at 190.

Price at 190.

Dinner's ready.

Where are you going?

Dinner's ready. You're not eating?

No.

Where're you going?

Do you want to come with us?

I'm not coming.

You naughty boys want to trick me again.

Go, go.

Sis.

Let me introduce

the reps from hunan.

Mao zedong.

Liu renjing.

It's been a long time.

He is he shuheng.

I know.

He's an imperial scholar.

Let me correct you.

I later studied at hunan first normal u.

Let's talk over dinner.

We're not meeting. Mao, let's chat later.

- Where're you going? - See you.

Great world.

Just be careful!

Best wishes, mr chen.

Welcome to Shanghai great eastern hotel.

Thank you.

Gongbo, that shop looks fantastic.

You go take a look.

I have to meet other reps first.

No.

Shop with me, then meet them.

Come on.

That way.

Gongbo, look over here.

That dress looks so pretty.

I want it.

No.

Chen gongbo, I'm buying it.

Hang on.

You're chen gongbo?

You are?

Zhou fohai.

How do you know my name?

Your wife said your name.

Who's he?

He's one of the reps from Japan.

You are?

Chen gongbo, the rep from Guangzhou.

Turn right after this block.

You'll see a red building.

That's the Avenue joffre police station.

Just 5 minutes from here.

Recently, the new youth editorial office

and foreign language education press

were both searched.

Even the print shops were shut down.

This area hasn't been too safe,

so we must be prepared.

If anything happens during the meeting,

you lead everyone out through this road.

Ok.

You're from the same hometown as li da

and used to live in Shanghai.

We trust you.

No worries.

- Li da. - Yes.

Zedong is here

zedong.

We've been pen pals of many years.

We finally meet.

That's right.

Li da.

You treat me as soon as I arrived.

That's fate.

You're welcome.

Put in more chili.

Ok.

You take a seat.

- Food will be ready soon. - Zedong,

it's hot. Put your long gown over there.

Ok.

Zedong.

Have a drink.

There's not a single spicy dish.

My wife doesn't eat spicy food.

Don't blame it on me.

I've got the guts to try.

Even if it's really spicy.

That's it...

Hunan is finished.

You think I don't want to?

It's my stomach problem.

It hurts like hell if I eat spicy food.

It's because he's a workaholic.

He only eats when he wants to.

So I'm sorry.

Help yourself.

Thank you.

What's funny?

You being a hunan man

is so respectful of women.

You should be our role model.

You're teasing me now.

Zedong.

I stayed up all night

to write and publish magazines.

I've sent quite a few to changsha,

but how come I've never seen a penny?

Li da.

Your writings inspire young people.

We've just started,

so we're poor.

When we do better,

we'll pay.

This is a loan receipt

from our bookstore to "the communist."

All itemized.

Please keep it.

I'm sorry.

Zedong.

Listen.

I'm the supplier and you're the vendor.

It's like running a company.

And now,

we're starting a new company,

it's a cause for celebration.

I'll break my rules and drink with you.

Me too.

Gender equality.

Sure.

Gender equality.

May the new company prosper.

May people gain wisdom.

May China end suffering.

Cheers.

Legs, so short.

Let's see that one.

This is fun.

Bravo!

Go there.

Thank you.

Support the people of China.

Thank you.

Support the people of China.

Support the people of China.

Support the people of China.

Support the people of China.

Thank you.

Support the people of China.

Thank you.

Support the people of China.

Support the people of China.

Leave.

Mao yichang!

Put the stick down!

Don't hit him!

Stop!

Where are you off to?

You're imperious and unreasonable.

You're an obstacle to social progress.

Mao!

Run!

You want to meet your end?

You never listen!

Mom and I are against you.

We win two to one.

You as a feudal parent must step down!

Step down?!

Just dream on!

Mao!

Hide out at your grandma's!

Don't come back before the 15th!

Ok!

Show our national pride!

Use China made products!

Make China great again!

Leave!

Ban Japanese products!

Show our national pride!

Use China made products!

Zedong.

Life is so short,

maybe we'll never see

the glory of victory.

Is it still worth our efforts today?

Of course.

We can't choose our country.

We can't choose our family.

But we can choose our dreams.

We can fight for them.

Die for what's right.

Even if we get nothing from it,

it'd still be worth it.

Why are the lights off?

They must be sleeping.

Don't knock.

It might wake them.

You two.

Follow me.

Come on.

Poor and backward.

Simply put,

even a country with a long history

will eventually

meet its end.

In the north,

Japan has invaded Korea.

In the south, France has taken Vietnam.

And our country

is a complete mess.

If we can't put an end to the battles,

the demise of our country is imminent.

That's why...

Finding a way to save our country

is our priority.

We must find a new way

that can save our country..

Who's it?

We're back.

Still up?

How did you come up?

The lights were off,

and we thought everyone was asleep.

In order not to wake anyone up,

we climbed the wall.

That's something.

There's a power cut.

What are you talking about?

We want to join in.

Just chitchatting.

We're chatting what we can do

or the country.

Mr he,

what made you join the revolution?

Me?

Nothing worth mentioning.

Come on.

Don't leave us on tenterhooks.

We're intrigued.

Yeah, tell us.

Come on, tell us.

Ok.

I'll tell you.

In 1902,

I was 27,

just like you.

And I aced the imperial exam.

Regrettably,

that's the best I got.

I had a friend who was much better.

He was also an imperial scholar.

The following year,

he came first in our province and

went to Beijing for the national exams.

He was among the best.

He passed everything.

He was great!

He was ecstatic.

Like a man possessed, he couldn't sleep.

Eventually,

he was in the final round of the exams.

The empress dowager summoned them.

Hundreds of them lined up outside,

kowtowing with their face on the ground.

When he got back, I asked him,

"what does the empress look like?"

He said, "I don't know."

"Didn't see her."

I asked, "why?"

He answered, "it's forbidden."

"We were not allowed to lift our heads."

He cried as he told me.

At that moment, I also felt helpless

and humiliated.

Just think about it.

In this country today,

if intellectuals

can't lift their heads,

how tragic is that?

That's why I joined the revolution.

I wish that one day

we can stand up straight

with our heads held high

And are free to see the world.

Fellow workers!

Why do we work day and night

and yet are never full?

That's because idle capitalists

have exploited our efforts.

They owe us

blood, sweat and tears.

Then what should we do?

Yeah, what can we do?

Just one way!

Learn from the Russian workers!

We should revolt!

What about right now?

Right now,

we must not be divided.

Regardless of our regions,

regardless of our genders,

we must unite together!

Protect our rights!

Fight for a pay rise!

We must all remember,

we're stronger together.

Together, we'll find victory!

Raise our wages!

Give back our blood, sweat and tears!

Without our demands...

We shall not work!

Off we go!

Off we go!

British American tobacco workers

have enough of the beatings.

They've started a thousand-man strike.

We should be there to support them.

Agreed.

Do you agree?

We need to support them

but we need a political party more.

A party that can lead the movement.

Its birth...

Is the most powerful action.

Am I right?

The Shanghai communist group

has already sent comrade li qihan

to organize and lead the strike.

You can rest easy.

Comrades.

Let's begin our preparation meeting.

Tomorrow is the opening of our congress.

Comintern reps will also attend.

The most important issue

is to follow our schedule

and elect the congress chairman,

translator and clerk.

- How are you? - How are you?

The handler will have the same paper.

Auntie, zedong's here to see you.

What are you doing?

We're here to do our laundry.

We've got a function tomorrow.

What function?

School reunion.

Boys or girls?

Both,

auntie.

So we want to look clean and smart.

Auntie,

can we get a discount?

I know what to do.

Free of charge.

W ait.

Gendi!

Thank you.

Thank you...

Thank you.

For the reunion tomorrow,

you can't wear that.

Wear this.

It's better.

My gift to you.

Auntie...

Wasn't this left by a client last year?

Shut up.

Zedong, try it on.

- Help him put it on. - Try it.

Put it on.

- I would look weird. - Get a mirror.

It" fit...

- Where's the mirror? - Coming.

Communism comes from the west.

Wear something western to match it.

- I'm such a hick. - Give it a try.

Only long gown becomes me.

- It fits. - Looks good on you.

Looking good.

Everyone.

I declare

the first national congress of ccp

officially begins.

Comrades,

on behalf of comrade Lenin

and comintern,

we congratulate you on the founding

of the ccp.

The founding of the ccp

is an enormous milestone to communism.

The bolshevik has a new oriental ally.

Slowly.

After thoroughly comparing

the politics and economy of China,

I think it's our party's priority

to organize industrial trade unions.

So we must not waver at all

on this issue.

But we need to be mindful of one thing.

If the unions

start a political struggle

that goes against our party program,

we must avoid becoming the puppet

and tool...

Of other political parties.

Moreover,

the labor problem

is originally an economic problem.

But when laborers

are piqued by their suffering

and decide to take action,

it becomes a political problem.

That's why

labor movements

can easily become political movements

and revolutionary mass movements.

Therefore, to emancipate from slavery,

we need to launch mass movements.

We must use class struggle

to topple capitalist private ownership.

Confiscate all means of production.

Socialists,

communists,

anarchists

all use violent revolutionary means

to overthrow the current regime.

But...

They all use violent means.

It's me.

- There's a fundamental difference. - I'm late.

The key is...

After the violent revolution

overthrows the old world,

what sort of new world should we build?

Russian dictatorship

or German parliamentarism?

Where are we?

Have we taken a good look

into which road we should take?

European parliamentarism

won't work in China.

In the communist manifesto,

Marx clearly states

that the highest principle of communism

is to build a proletarian dictatorship.

There's no doubt about it.

It has to be the dictatorship of labor.

We're still living in the old world.

Guns are still in the warlords' hands.

And we only have our pens.

How would we make a violent revolution?

We should unite the workers,

rely on them,

and arm them.

In the draft of our resolution,

we've already put an emphasis

on the importance of labor movements.

What about peasants?

Peasants?

Chen sheng and wu guang?

That's not marxism.

Let me ask another question.

Class struggle

can be separated into armed struggle,

economical struggle,

and political struggle.

But which route should we take?

Do we really know?

Marx said armed struggle

was the ultimate form of class struggle.

If this is a revolution,

we should go for an armed revolution.

What about workers' economical struggle?

Or legislators' political struggle?

Legislators?

That's the product of the bourgeoisie

deceiving the proletariat.

We communists must stand

side by side with the proletariat.

We can't become legislators!

We can't hold any public positions!

But mr chen duxiu

is serving in the Southern government.

Chen gongbo.

Why talk about this now?

What do you mean?

You should know what I mean.

Right now, we do need

mr chen duxiu to resign from his post

and return to Shanghai

to be our leader.

But...

Why party members

can't serve in the government?

One is principle.

One is strategy.

Once employed as an official,

your thoughts will change accordingly

and you'll be against the proletariat

and become your own enemy.

To start a violent revolution,

we must be impartial

and stand firm.

I agree.

Me too.

Here.

Eat some watermelon

to take the heat off.

In other words,

to calm down.

Power's back.

Agree to disagree.

Don't move.

Comrade, take care.

Sir,

it's getting worse.

A Japanese man was killed

and he had a gun.

No one saw the killer.

The dutchman got away again?

We didn't see him at all.

Be careful.

If need be, blame the French.

Ok.

104 rue amiral wantz

is listed to the organizations' union.

There's been a rise in activities.

Check them out,

give them a warning.

Got it.

You should sleep.

Your lamp is too bright.

Mr zhou.

Miss Yang was here this afternoon.

She left a message for you.

Tomorrow at 10:30 am

in the Sullivan's ice cream shop.

She'll be waiting for you.

Thank you.

That's all...

Thank you for your help.

Zedong.

Well...

There's so much disagreement today.

Will we reach an agreement tomorrow?

We will!

Why?

Because we share the same original goal:

To overthrow the old world.

Just that?

Also because we share the same dream:

To build a new China.

Everyone wants a new China

where the people are the masters.

The driving force of laborers

is as strong as the sun

shining on this earth.

Without it,

humans can't live a single day.

You go that way. I'll go this way.

Door to door.

If you meet a radical,

just wing it.

Don't risk your life.

Bro,

don't scare me. I'm timid.

Go.

The international reps will be there.

Let's get there early.

We'll have the votes today.

Where's zhou fohai?

Him?

He kept yelling about a stomachache.

Fohai?

Are you ok?

No, I had the runs 17 times all morning.

I ate too much ice cream with shuhui.

But...

The ice cream was really good.

Just count me as abstain.

I'll respect the resolutions there.

- Good to see you! - Have a seat!

Comrades, let's begin.

Everyone,

today is an important day.

We'll have a Democratic vote

on the ccp's guidelines and resolutions.

We'll elect our general secretary,

organizing and propaganda committees.

Who are you looking for?

Is this organizations' union.

What is it?

Stop!

Who are you looking for?

Chairman wang of organizations' union.

There's no union or chairman wang here.

Please leave.

That's the man in the car.

I'm sorry.

Must be the wrong address.

This isn't number 1047?

I'm so sorry.

What number is this?

He is secret police. We need to go.

Pack up and go! Hurry!

Let's split up and follow li da or mao.

All of you leave. I'll stay behind.

- I'll stay with you. - You guys come with me.

We don't make contact until safe.

Follow me.

Mr he and mr dong, come with me.

This way.

Follow me.

Sir.

What's the matter?

The radicals are having a meeting.

At 106 rue wantz.

Hurry!

How stupid!

They'll be gone.

Have one.

Ok.

Haven't smoked for years.

Out of the way!

What was the meeting for?

We were editing the new age series.

It was a work meeting.

We were editing the new age series.

A work meeting.

Who's in charge?

Good evening, sir.

I am.

Why are there so many socialist books?

I'm an editor for the commercial press.

I need to read everything.

Who were the two foreigners?

They are englishmen.

Professors at Beijing u.

They come and chat quite often.

Where are you from?

The captain is asking where you're from.

Quickly.

What is it?

What happened?

The secret police broke into the venue.

I've seen that guy before.

You've seen him? Where?

The bar where I met maring.

We should stop meeting in Shanghai.

Then where can we go?

West lake. Have the meeting on a boat.

So no one can come on board.

West lake is too crowded. It's not safe.

How about jiaxing? It's safer.

Ok.

Socialism may help China in the future,

but not yet in my jurisdiction now.

Since you're teachers, I'll spare you.

We'd normally seal this place,

but we'll just confiscate the books.

Let's go.

Goodbye, sir.

Mr Yang, did anyone come?

No.

Zhou fohai.

Zedong.

The meeting finished so early?

There's a situation.

Pack up and come with me.

So late?

The meeting didn't go well?

We must leave Shanghai.

Murder at a great eastern hotel!

Give me one.

Great eastern hotel?

Gongbo and his wife are staying there.

They're fine.

A worker was killed by her boyfriend.

Any news on the workers' strike?

It's still on. They refuse to back down.

Gongbo said he's leaving with his wife.

He wouldn't be coming.

The train is going to hangzhou.

Get off at jiaxing. Meet at south lake.

- Let's split up. - Ok.

Get off at jiaxing. Meet at south lake.

Let's split up.

Come on, just play something.

Come on...

Pong...

See what I've got.

Four dots.

Ok, let's continue our meeting.

Everyone,

we're now voting on mr chen duxiu

as our general secretary.

Aye.

Aye. Aye. Aye.

Passed unanimously.

I hereby declare mr chen duxiu

as the general secretary of ccp.

Next, let's elect

the propaganda committee of ccp

and also the organization committee.

Candidates are zhang guotao and li da.

Time to vote.

Aye. Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Passed.

I'l read from the communist manifesto

to express my excitement.

The communists

disdain to conceal their views and aims.

They openly declare

that their ends can only be attained

by the forcible overthrow

of all existing social conditions.

Let the ruling classes tremble

at a communistic revolution.

The proletarians have nothing to lose

but their chains.

They have a world to win.

Working men of all countries, unite!

Working men of all countries, unite!

Arise, those who are being damned,

all the outlaws and slaves in the world!

Our messy rationality is about to boil.

Prepare to die in the last ditch.

We've erased the hegemony of the world.

We have eradicated it.

We'll see a new world on the horizon.

As long as we can't call anything our own.

Zedong.

They agreed.

Brothers!

The company has agreed to our demands!

Our strike is victorious!

All hail to the working class!

Laborers are sacred!

All hail to the working class!

Laborers are sacred!

Comrades,

during this past year,

within one year,

we've grown from 50 to 195 party members

since the first congress.

Li da.

It was in this little house of yours

that we set up our party's

first publishing company,

the people's press.

This year,

our party has led strikes

by the pudong tobacco workers,

hankou rickshaw drivers,

and Hong Kong sailors.

And now,

right now,

with response for all sides,

the Beijing-hankou railway strike

has begun.

It seems that I can smell

the smoke of burning fire in the air.

The climax of the revolution

is on the horizon.

Countrymen!

The people's Republic of China

and the central people's government

have been established today!

The 1st national congress was held here.

The building is a shikumen construction.

It was built in the Autumn of 1920.

This year marks its centenary.

It's restored based on historic papers.

There were 13 early party reps

and 2 comintern reps.

15 people attended the congress.