How does Breaking with Old Ideas end?

In the final act ("Divine Intervention and Triumph"): Peasant support and a direct pronouncement from Mao Zedong intervene to save the institution. Long's educational revolution is fully validated, securing the university's future and vindicating Li's revolutionary path.

Breaking with Old Ideas (1975) — AI Story Visualization

Name: Breaking with Old Ideas
Genre: drama
Released: 1975
Rating: 5.3

Plot Analysis Summary

A 1975 Chinese film depicting the ideological struggle to reform higher education along communist lines.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

Ideological Infiltration

The Trial of Revolution

Mass Mobilization and Closure

Divine Intervention and Triumph

The film tells the story of the Communist Labour College that opened in the 1960s. Long Guozheng, an emissary from the Communist government and Li Jinfeng, a female peasant student, must fight against the school's more conservative elements. In the film's climax, Li is put on trial and is about to be expelled from the school when she is saved by a pronouncement from Chairman Mao himself.

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

Rating: 5.3/10 (6 votes)