Synopsis:

Evening Bell, the 1989 Berlin International Film Festival Silver Bear winner, explores humanity in war. After Japan's declaration of surrender, thousands of Japanese troops remaining in China fall into deadly despair. Five Chinese Eight Route Army soldiers collecting corpses for both sides accidentally encounter a starving Japanese soldier on the verge of death. Begging for help, he leads them to a secret Japanese gunpowder depot - a hidden cave inside which are 33 exhausted and starving Japanese soldiers cut off from the outside. Hearing about Japan's defeat, with the silent desire to return home, the soldiers have to choose between stepping out of the cave and blowing themselves up as an act of loyalty. The Chinese soldiers, although each haunted by memories of family members being killed or raped by the Japanese, try to persuade the soldiers to come out and live. The clock is ticking and a life-or-death decision must be made......

Awards:

Won the Silver Bear at the 39th Berlin International Film Festival in Germany

Won Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and nominated for Best Art Direction, Best Sound Effects and Best Original Score at the 9th Golden Rooster Awards (jinji jiang) in China

Won Best Film, Best Director and Best Sound Effects at the 7th Bogotá International Film Festival in Columbia