These films were noted for their emphasis on class struggle and external threats (i.e. Japanese aggression), as well as on their focus on common people, such as a family of silk farmers in Spring Silkworms and a prostitute in The Goddess.
Dessa progressiva filmer omtalades för sina bilder av klassmotsättningar och yttre hot (läs: Japans krigshets), lika väl som för sin fokus på vanliga människor: en familj silkesfarmare i Vårens silkesmaskar och en prostituerad i Gudinnan.