At the beginning of the movie, Jiang Wen and his lover Xiaoyu are doing something shameful. Suddenly, a mysterious man who claimed to be "me" came out of the door and pointed a gun at Jiang Wen, asking him to look after the Japanese prisoners for a few days. This "I" is mysterious from beginning to end, and no one knows his true identity. Because "I" refused to take responsibility and didn't keep my promise (I'll find someone in five days), I may have been killed. A story that makes people laugh and cry unfolded.
Saburo Hanako and the translator tried to escape many times during their days in charge of Japanese prisoners of war. First, they shouted loudly, trying to make the passing devil hear them. Then they asked the chicken to take away the pamphlet. Then they asked the children to take a message. The trapped villagers died many times. Therefore, the village name decided to kill the two men. But no one dares to do it. Finally, Jiang Wen was decided by lot. Jiang Wen didn't kill small fish because they were superstitious (if they were pregnant, they would become ghosts if they were killed). Afterwards, the villagers blamed Jiang Wen. However, everyone is shirking responsibility and no one dares to do it. They are all playing their own tricks, trying not to get involved in this matter. However, no one is doomed to escape. If the villagers unite to kill the devil, there will be no future tragedy.
When Jiang Wen and the villagers sent the prisoners back to the Japanese military camp to exchange food, the villagers' donkeys lost their manners and the Japanese horses disappeared. Some people say that this is a very vulgar and useless plot. In fact, this seemingly absurd plot has another meaning. This plot subtly reflects the psychology of the Japanese squad leader at that time: Saburo Hanako should have died, and being saved by China people is the real shame.