Zheng Hanyi

In September 2025, the Sino-Russian co-produced spy thriller Red Silk (红丝绸) premiered in Chinese cinemas. A major project of the "China-Russia Culture Year," the film had already been a hit with Russian audiences earlier in the year. It follows Chinese and Soviet agents in 1927 as they unite to protect a vital secret document aboard the Trans-Siberian Railway. More than an adventure, the film stands as a significant milestone in collaborative filmmaking between the two nations. A Shared Creative Vision The project began with a goal to create a story resonating with both Chinese and Russian viewers. Producer Vadim Birlkin, inspired by a 2019 visit to Hengdian World Studios (横店影视城), envisioned a film about "China and Russia safeguarding justice together" that was also commercially viable. Director Andrey Volgin defined the movie as a suspenseful spy film set primarily on a train, using the confined space to heighten tension. The title, Red Silk, was chosen for its symbolism. For Russian audiences, red silk evokes China, while the color red signifies love and victory. The director saw the red silk as a narrative thread connecting the characters' fates. Overcoming Technical Challenges To achieve historical authenticity, the production team undertook ambitious technical work. Since real train…