Breaking with Old Ideas (1975) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A communist educational reform project confronts capitalist academic practices before mass support and Mao's pronouncement save the college.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Revolutionary Appointment

Long Guozheng is sent to lead the new Jiangxi Communist Labour University. His communist educational principles immediately clash with more capitalist academic standards.

Key Events

• Party Assigns Long — The Chinese Communist Party sends Long to lead a newly established labor university. Characters: Long Guozheng Location: China
• New University Opens — Long assumes leadership of the newly established Jiangxi Communist Labour University. Characters: Long Guozheng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Academic Standards Clash — Long's communist approach clashes with more capitalist academic elements. Characters: Long Guozheng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Admissions Debate Begins — Long challenges the refusal to admit poorly educated peasants. Characters: Long Guozheng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Working Class Admissions — Long advocates admitting students from the working class. Characters: Long Guozheng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University

Labor Replaces Convention

Long promotes working-class admissions, hard labor, experiential courses, field lessons, and practical curriculum changes. These reforms dismay many members of the staff.

Key Events

• Working Class Admissions — Long advocates admitting students from the working class. Characters: Long Guozheng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Labor Gains Priority — Long places greater emphasis on hard labor than classroom learning. Characters: Long Guozheng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Courses Are Reworked — Long changes courses to support experiential learning. Characters: Long Guozheng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Impractical Lessons Removed — Long removes impractical sections from the curriculum. Characters: Long Guozheng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Classes Move Outdoors — Lessons are held in the field as part of Long's reforms. Characters: Long Guozheng Location: Fields near the university
• Work Replaces Examinations — Students working for the commune may be excused from examinations. Characters: Long Guozheng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Staff Resist Reform — Many staff members are dismayed by Long's innovative changes. Characters: Long Guozheng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University

The Student On Trial

Li Jinfeng is identified as an exemplary follower of the educational revolution, yet she faces expulsion and a public trial. Her case exposes the conflict over the university's direction.

Key Events

• Staff Resist Reform — Many staff members are dismayed by Long's innovative changes. Characters: Long Guozheng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Li Emerges as Example — Long regards Li as an exemplary follower of the educational revolution. Characters: Long Guozheng, Li Jinfeng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Li Faces Expulsion — Li faces expulsion despite being viewed as a reform exemplar. Characters: Long Guozheng, Li Jinfeng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Li Is Put On Trial — Li is placed on trial in a public challenge to the educational revolution. Characters: Long Guozheng, Li Jinfeng Location: Public trial venue
• Masses Rally Behind Li — The masses come out in support of Li during the trial. Characters: Long Guozheng, Li Jinfeng Location: Public trial venue

The College Under Threat

The masses support Li and denounce the capitalist line on education. Those in power respond by deciding to shut down the college.

Key Events

• Masses Rally Behind Li — The masses come out in support of Li during the trial. Characters: Long Guozheng, Li Jinfeng Location: Public trial venue
• Capitalist Line Denounced — Supporters denounce those taking the capitalist line on education. Characters: Long Guozheng, Li Jinfeng Location: Public trial venue
• College Faces Closure — Those in power taking the capitalist line decide to shut down the college. Characters: Long Guozheng, Li Jinfeng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Peasants Defend College — The will of the peasants becomes decisive in the college's defense. Characters: Long Guozheng, Li Jinfeng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University

Peasant Will Prevails

The peasants' will and a pronouncement from Mao Zedong save the college. The ending affirms the survival of the revolutionary educational project.

Key Events

• Peasants Defend College — The will of the peasants becomes decisive in the college's defense. Characters: Long Guozheng, Li Jinfeng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Political Struggle Peaks — The college's survival becomes the central outcome of the educational struggle. Characters: Long Guozheng, Li Jinfeng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Mao Issues Pronouncement — A pronouncement from Mao Zedong supports saving the college. Characters: Long Guozheng, Li Jinfeng Location: China
• College Is Saved — The college survives through peasant will and Mao's pronouncement. Characters: Long Guozheng, Li Jinfeng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University
• Revolutionary Education Endures — The saved university stands as the outcome of the educational revolution. Characters: Long Guozheng, Li Jinfeng Location: Jiangxi Communist Labour University

Story Breakdown

• Leadership Assignment — Long Guozheng arrives as the appointed head of the new Jiangxi Communist Labour University.
  • Party Sends Long — The Chinese Communist Party sends Long to lead the newly established university.
  • New School Opens — Long assumes responsibility for the new Jiangxi Communist Labour University.
• Ideological Conflict — Long's communist educational approach clashes with capitalist academic elements within the school.
  • Academic Standards Clash — The school emphasizes high bourgeois academic standards, contrary to Long's approach.
  • Peasant Access Disputed — Long challenges the refusal to admit poorly educated peasants.
• Admissions Revolution — Long proposes an educational model centered on working-class students.
  • Working Class Focus — Long advocates admitting students from the working class.
  • Bourgeois Criteria Rejected — The reform rejects bourgeois educational standards as the sole basis for admission.
• Practical Education — The university's curriculum and daily teaching are reorganized around labor and experience.
  • Labor Takes Priority — Hard labor receives greater emphasis than classroom learning.
  • Field Lessons Begin — Lessons move into the field to support experiential learning.
• Curriculum Transformation — Long changes the course structure and removes material he considers impractical.
  • Courses Accommodate Experience — Courses are switched to accommodate experiential learning.
  • Impractical Sections Removed — Sections judged impractical are removed from the curriculum.
• Staff Resistance — Many staff members are dismayed as Long's reforms challenge established academic practices.
  • Reforms Cause Dismay — The staff reacts negatively to Long's innovative changes.
  • Institutional Tension Grows — The educational conflict expands from policy disagreements into a broader institutional struggle.
• Li's Public Trial — Li Jinfeng becomes the central student case in the struggle over revolutionary education.
  • Exemplary Follower — Long considers Li an exemplary follower of the educational revolution.
  • Expulsion And Trial — Li faces expulsion and is put on trial.
• Mass Political Response — Public support for Li turns her case into a mass confrontation with the capitalist educational line.
  • Masses Support Li — The masses come out in support of Li.
  • Capitalist Line Denounced — Those taking the capitalist line on education are publicly denounced.
• College Closure Threat — The political forces opposing the reform attempt to end the university itself.
  • Closure Decision — Those in power taking the capitalist line decide to shut down the college.
  • Reform Project Endangered — The closure decision threatens the educational model Long has established.
• Peasant And Political Victory — The peasants' will and Mao Zedong's pronouncement preserve the college.
  • Peasant Will Prevails — The will of the peasants becomes a decisive force in saving the college.
  • Mao Saves College — A pronouncement from Mao Zedong contributes to the college's survival.

Directed by

Li Wenhua

Key Cast

• Zhenqing Guo — Long Guozheng
• Wang Suya — Li Jinfeng
• Wen Xiying — Deputy Secretary Tang
• Ge Cunzhuang — Sun Ziqing
• Zhang Zheng — Old Representative