In the summer of 1917, the then 23-year-old Mao Zedong embarked on a monthlong journey with his friend Xiao Zisheng to five counties across Hunan province, an experience that deeply influenced the paths both men would take later in life.

A seminar about The Beginning, the feature-length movie inspired by this historical journey, was held in Beijing on July 16.

Song Zhiqin, deputy director of the Movie Art Center of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, said that the film breaks away from conventional narrative techniques, taking a fresh approach to illustrate the evolution of Mao's revolutionary ideas during the journey.

Jin Yibin, a professor at the China Academy of Art, said that it incorporates the traditional Chinese painting technique of liubai (leaving blank spaces) in certain scenes, creating a distinctive aesthetic approach to narrating the evolution of Mao.

Yin Hong, vice-chairman of the China Film Association, said that the film delves into Mao's contemplation of deep questions, like the direction in which China was headed, how it could establish itself in the world, and how civilization should continue to evolve.

Additionally, the beginning of the film is shot to resemble a Chinese ink painting, showcasing the style's artistic techniques as well as the distinctive style of the director, Yin added.

The movie was released in theaters across the Chinese mainland on July 1.