The play, originally titled "Brothers", has been renamed "I will cry if you call me brother." It tells of two young intellectuals who consider themselves brothers, but choose different lifestyles after China adopts its opening-up policies. Their different attitudes toward life finally destroy their friendship.

According to Director Cao Qijing, the play has been revised many times and its name has been changed four times.

He said the play described the lives of a whole generation from 1978 to 1998, but avoided the theme of love between a man and a woman popular in current Chinese plays.

(People's Daily October 16, 2002)