Like many of the era's young intellectuals, Cheng noticed how third-world leftist films gave a voice to the oppressed. These raised his social consciousness, strengthening his concern for the weak and his desire to right social injustices.
鄭文堂與許多當年的知識青年一樣，看了大量來自第三世界、為「被壓迫者」發聲的左派電影，這更增強了他關心弱勢、好打抱不平的社會意識。