Actress Qin Hailu and Chen go up in a swing, recreating a romantic sequence in the drama at the same event. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Comparing the protagonist's life to "an umbrella handle", Liu explains that the other characters-mostly regulars at the tavern-all have their own legends, which combine to offer a panoramic snapshot of the locals' struggle to resist the Japanese invaders.

In a preview screening in Beijing last week, it was clear the cast had an impressive array of supporting characters, including a feudal father who threatens to commit suicide if his overseas-educated son refuses to divorce his foreign wife, and a policeman of the puppet state who ends up switching sides to join his anti-Japanese compatriots.

Shooting lasted for around four months, Liu recalls, with most of the scenes taking place in a set recreating a street in the style of old Dalian built on the outskirts of Tianjin. The more remote scenes were filmed in the forests of Mudanjiang in southeastern Heilongjiang province.

The forest sequences revolve around the protagonists' search to avenge the death of his only son, which took more than 20 days to shoot and recounted in one episode.