Former serviceman instills patriotism in villagers with classic revolutionary-themed films

As projectionist Zhou Xuesong fine-tuned his machine at a square in Yangzhuang village in Datong, Shanxi province, on the evening of Jun 23, he was surrounded by villagers who brought chairs to secure a spot for a good view, as well as children who were chasing each other around and laughing.

"What's on show for tonight?" a villager asked Zhou. "Zhang Ga the Soldier Boy," he replied, as a beam of light hit the screen amid cheers.

This moment encapsulates Zhou's years of dedication to screening vintage movies for villagers, all for free.

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Zhou, 62, has been fascinated by Chinese revolutionary-themed movies since he was a child, which inspired him to become a soldier as he grew up. The films, including Tunnel Warfare, Landmine Warfare and Nan Zheng Bei Zhan, were considered classics by generations of Chinese people due to their good quality and display of bravery, heroism and patriotism.

In 1981, he joined the army and was assigned to the film unit in his brigade, where he learned the intricacies of inspection, projection and film rewind. Achieving a clean sheet of more than 300 screenings without a single accident, he excelled in the former Beijing military region's skill test for projectionists.

Retirement from the military did not diminish Zhou's enthusiasm for movies. He became a collector of vintage film copies and projectors. Now, his collection includes some 400 copies of old films and seven projectors.

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Starting in 2003, he began screening his copies of revolutionary films for free in companies, villages and schools in various counties in Datong, as education and entertainment. His screenings help instill a sense of gratitude for the peace and prosperity today and build a sense of patriotism among his viewers.