Revolutionary legal drama hits Chinese theaters

The film "A Murder Beside Yanhe River" opens in Chinese theaters on December 4, 2014, which is also China's first Constitution Day. [Photo/Baidu]

The film "A Murder Beside Yanhe River" brings the drama of revolutionary justice to the big screen on its opening day today, which is also China's first Constitution Day.

Set in 1937 amid China's communist revolution, the film is based on the true story of Huang Kegong. Huang was a 26-year-old soldier in the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army that murdered a female student, in Yan'an, Shaanxi province, after his marriage proposal was rejected.

Huang expected Chairman Mao Zedong to grant him amnesty for the crime, given Huang's service to the Red Army, but Mao refused to pardon the murder.

What resulted was the first widely-followed public trial in the history of the Communist Party of China.

"A Murder Beside Yanghe River" stars actor Wang Kai as Huang Kegong and veteran actor Cheng Taishen as Lei Jingtian, the judge presiding over the case.

The film was first screened at the ninth Chinese young Generation Film Forum last month.

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