The way Chinese movies like this are themed are a focus on the thought and diplomacy behind great events. I think the West is too used to 90 minutes of jam packed action, guns and swords blazing. The depictions in this movie are accurate and moving. The May the 4th Movement protest gave me goosebumps as a Chinese student. The hardships and ambition of the founders of the CPC and the students of Beijing is shown very well too. Just a shame that afterwards (not in the movie but in real life) most the founders of the party would be killed or defect before 1949.