Synopsis
In the spring of 1924, when the revolutionary girl Yang Zhihua entered the Shanghai University, the 25-year-old Qu Qiubai was teaching as a professor there for the Department of Sociology. He shinned as one of prominent leaders of Chinese Communist Party during early stage. Qu made full use of his teachings to spread the thoughts on revolution, ignited the young students’ patriotism, and deeply moved Yang Zhihua. Studying with the respected Professor Qu, Qiubai had delighted Yang Zhihua and had her feel honored. Meanwhile, Qu did notice and take pleasure to take care of this student.
Yang Zhihua’s pains originated from her husband’s lack of support for her study and her “partly hidden and partly visible” revolutionary life that appeared so seriously different in one's life principles and attitudes. On the other side, Qu Qiubai had been busy at his work while his wife’s lung disease deteriorated. His heart was full of misgivings. Finally, the incurable disease destroyed his hopes and deprived his wife of life. More seriously, during that time the Rightists of Kuomintang began to launch more and more horrible attacks on the communist party with the emergence of workers’ movement.
In gathering for the anniversary of Double Ten Day, students’ patriotism suffered from concession administration’s crackdown, during which a student named Huang Ren was pushed off the platform and fell to death this triggered extreme indignation among students. As a communist, Yang Zhihua bravely took charge of the student association. Yang and Qu, the two young revolutionists, become closer and closer. Making the determination to face each other’s love, they went back to Yang’s hometown, Xiaoshan, and had a candid dialogue with Yang’s husband. This visit ended with a magical compromise that was marked with a divorce announcement and a pledge for the brotherhood relationship between Qu and Yang’s husband on Shanghai’s newspaper.
When Dr. Sun Yat-Sen passed by Shanghai, he was embraced by the students and citizens who came to show their support for his revolution, which caused the concession administration to be in a state of nervousnes and finally ordered the police to ransack the Shanghai University and Qu Qiubai’s residence. The books on revolution were confiscated and burned, and Qu Qiubai was listed as wanted. The communist party decided that Qu should do the underground works for the party from then on. He did keep in touch with his wife and enjoyed their sweet love, although their life was always endangered by the changing political atmosphere.
In the year 1935, Qu got arrested. Facing a series of induction to capitulate, he did not hesitate to insist on being loyal to his revolutionist ideals. When Yang Zhihua tried to make full use of measures to save him, General Qiang Kai-shek made order to execute. Qu sang the Internationale when he was executed for championing a just cause. Perhaps he did manage to implement his promise and ideals with his life.