The Eight Hundred
The Eight Hundred is a movie that is based on the true story of how 800 soldiers defended Shanghai from the Japanese advance. Set on the Sihang Warehouse in 1937 during World War II, it shows the stories of the NRA soldiers.
In what became known as the Battle of Shanghai, the Imperial Japanese Army entered Shanghai. The Chinese army was compelled to retire owing to the threat of being trapped after fighting off the Japanese for nearly three months and incurring tremendous losses.
Lieutenant Colonel Xie Jinyuan of the 524th Regiment of the National Revolutionary Army’s under-equipped 88th Division led 452 young officers and soldiers to defend Sihang Warehouse against the 3rd Imperial Japanese Division, which numbered around 20,000 men, in a heroic suicidal last stand against the Japanese, as ordered by Generalissimo of Nationalist China.
The decision was taken to give the Chinese people a morale boost following the defeats of Beijing and Shanghai. It also helped encourage assistance from Western powers, who could see the conflict from the International Settlement. They were in Shanghai, just over the Suzhou Creek.
Thoughts
The movie has shown the realistic effects of war on soldiers. We are were often portrayed as men marching to battle not afraid of what is ahead. In this story, you would see the reality of what it was like to go to war. It also shows how patriotism has shaped these soldiers. From cowering children to becoming real soldiers, it shows their journey from fear to bravery. It also shows how camaraderie takes place between strangers. The different personalities and thinking are all mixed in a warehouse that is forced to hold out attacks from the Japanese. It is good that the entertainment industry is shedding more light on these battles. It inspires our generation to appreciate what these soldiers have fought for.