Chinese Cinema - Movie Review Example

Chinese Cinema Introduction Chinese films have various themes. Movies created during and after the Chinese revolution for example have the revolution as the main theme running through them. Other films have Chinese tradition and women roles among other themes. The revolution was a socio-political movement in China between 1966 and 1977. During this time there was a struggle in which capitalism, culture and tradition were being phased out from the society. In their place, communism was being installed (Clark, 2008). Since the Cultural Revolution is a major event in the history of China, various movies have been created with the revolution featuring as a a prominent theme. However the scope of this essay does not include all these themes. The essay analyses three Chinese movies with the theme ‘revolution’. These films are “Breaking with old ideas,” “Hibiscus town” and “The herdsmen.” Through the events taking place in the three movies, the essay also seeks to show that the Cultural Revolution took place and that it was a success. Breaking with old ideas This film was set around 1958 although its production was done after the Revolution in China. The film tends to justify the cultural revolution through its story in which there is a project being undertaken in which a college is being set up. The project is split between the camp of the Maoists and the revisionists. This movie has revolution as one of its major themes and this can be seen through various scenes. As the events unfold in the movie we see that the people are in control of activities of the middle level party. With the progression of the film one would not be blamed to develop a dislike for the people. They are finally accused by a protagonist for supporting the bourgeoisie (Silbergeld, 1999). The stage that is set by these people is that of the Cultural Revolution. This is so because they push the peasants to the wall so that the only remaining solution to their problems is rise with the support of the party’s to levels. This is characteristic of the struggle that was witnessed in the real revolution in the People’s Republic of China. This sets the stage for the Cultural Revolution. As the film progresses to the end we cannot fail to see the Cultural Revolution playing out within it (Silbergeld, 1999). The film turns to become the Cultural Revolution as it draws to the end. The peasants are seen rising up against the officials of the middle level party. This happens after the move of the party to attempt to execute the policy of one guarantee and three selves. This is meant to take people back to the system of private ownership of land. The Maoists attacked Liu Shaoqi because of this. The theme of the revolution is seen through the plot of the movie almost all though its events towards the end. The peasants are seen bitterly refusing the private land ownership because they think it is going backward instead of progressing. The peasant that talks most is to appear for public session of criticism. This is indicative of the revolution where people were disgraced and humiliated publicly especially those thought to be opposing communism. The party leaders are denounced because people want socialism. Among the people agitating are two youngsters who are also denouncing their own fathers for displaying capitalist kind of behavior (Hsiao-peng Lu ed, 1997). The revolution was meant to do away with capitalism and bring in communism. The side that plays a more reactionary role is seen to be more Confucian and hence more of communist than capitalist. The Maoist protagonist for instance does not allow students to bow to him in order to show their respect for him. This is indicative of the struggle in the revolution where culture and traditions were being fought. Bowing before a leader or older person would pass as part of tradition and culture. The teacher who appears to be old fashioned does not rests this because probably the ideas of communism are yet to sink in his head. Denouncing your own father is not Confucian at all although the reactionaries do this. It is an idea of the revolution. Socialism comes of the scene in the film several times because it is one of the things that were meant to take the stage with the fading of capitalism (Dissanayake, 1988). The characters in the film appear to be oversimplified. This brings a feeling of communism and socialism that characterized the struggle of the revolution. For example we see the protagonist as a man with a broad smile and he can laugh and smile no mater the situation. To remind us of the revolution as a theme in the movie, we hear peasants singing songs about the revolution in the party as they go about with their washing. Stereotypes enemies want to oppose communism and maintain capitalism. They prefer to read books not written by the Chinese so that they can be famous in the whole world. The protagonist on the other hand chooses to read books written by Mao and through this he gets a different mind set. Mao’s ideas and teachings were very influential during the Cultural Revolution in China between 1966 and 1976. In the movie we see an unusual devotion to collective property and labor especially among the peasants. As an example of their devotion, they leave everything and sacrifice the results form their examinations to protect the crops in the wee hours of the night. The kind of communal living and joint effort for the benefit of all was one of the ideas of Mao Zedong and the Communist Party that brought communism into power during the revolution. When these are observed in the film we are therefore reminded of the revolution and what it was meant to bring into the Chinese society. In all things happening there are reasons for all the bad and the good things. It depends on the side that an individual is taking (Clark, 2008). Another thing that brings evidence of the “revolution” theme in the film can be seen through the forgiveness extended to people when they are taken through a session of self criticism. Forgiveness seems to have been part of the ideals propagated by the Communist Party during the Cultural Revolution although things may not have worked out that way. Forgiveness therefore gives a hint of the revolution although there were real cases of harassment and torture during the Cultural Revolution. Hibiscus town Hibiscus town is another Chinese film that has “the revolution” as one of the prominent themes. The movie is about the travails and the entire life of a young woman that lived in the days of the Cultural Revolution. The movie tries to paint a picture of the Cultural Revolution through out via the life of this young woman. Viewers are able to call to mind the Cultural Revolution through events that unfold. First, the whole film is set in a manner that it has a young woman as one of its major characters. This young woman called Hu Yuyin living in a small town in China is seen in a happy marriage and is operating a food stall by the roadside on the eve of the revolution. Yuyin receives support from the members of the party who at one time showed interest in her. The theme of the revolution also comes out when the Four Clean Ups Movement releases a team from the party to get rid of capitalists and rightists. In the events that ensue there is a struggle that reminds the viewers of the things that took place during the revolution. Capitalists and rightists in the movie are representative of capitalism, tradition and culture in the Chinese society that the revolution sought to wipe out. Capitalists in the movie are seen as a threat to the revolution movement just as they were in the real revolution in China between 1966 and 1976. The teams send from the party to head the struggle is led by a single woman called Li Guoxiang. Wang Qiushi who formerly was a poor peasant is helping the single woman. There is a struggle session taking place in public. This takes our memories back to the Cultural Revolution where such struggles to get rid of capitalists was present. Yuyin becomes a “rich peasant.” She and her husband lose their business and home. All these events are characteristic of the Cultural Revolution although they are part of a revolution being shown in the movie (Clark 2008). When the revolution in the movie ends Yuyun goes back to the town but is reduced to a sweeper on the street. The Hibiscus town takes us back to the Cultural Revolution through many episodes and scenes within the movie (Yingjin , Zhiwei, 1998). The herdsmen The “herdsmen” is another Chinese movie that has the revolution as one of its major themes. The movie is a bout a herdsman and his life in the western part of China from the 1950s all through the whole period of the Cultural Revolution until he reunites with his father who is coming in from America with the hope of taking Xu back there to do business. In fact, the Cultural Revolution can be seen through out the movie. There are certain particular incidents though, that can precisely be interpreted to point at the Cultural Revolution. These and many others help to reinforce that fact that “revolution” is the most prominent theme in the entire movie. Xu who is a major character in the movie is a teacher and is believed to be a rightist. Having been labeled a rightist he is banished to a ranch in a region that is underdeveloped in the North Western part of China. By Xu suffering a labor penalty we see a scenario where the Cultural Revolution is being played in the movie. The Cultural Revolution had cases where those thought to be supporting capitalism were punished through various ways such as public humiliation or excommunication (Clark 2008). In the movie there is painted a picture of the Cultural Revolution. We see Guo Zi and the rest of the ranchers protecting Xu so that he does not face political persecution. This kind of persecution was characteristic of the struggle in China that brought communism into the country. Political persecution was directed at those who were seen to be disobeying the call to establish communism by Mao and his communist party (Yingjin , Zhiwei, 1998). The “herdsmen” clearly displays the theme of the revolution through the life of Xu who happens to be one of the main characters in the movie. As Xu reconciles with his father we see one of the ideals and teachings of Mao being practiced. Xu had separated with his father who abandoned him when he was still young. When they meet again, he forgives him and they come back to good terms. Forgiveness was a major teaching in the Mao Zedong revolution and by us seeing it in the movie; it reminds us of the Cultural Revolution and its happenings (Clark, 1987). Conclusion In conclusion, the essay has examined the Chinese movies “breaking with old ideas, hibiscus town and the herdsmen.” The theme “revolution” has been found to run through all these movies based on the evidence that has been cited. The three movies are set in a time during or after the Cultural Revolution when communism was introduced in China. Mao Zedong, the leader of the Communist Party introduced teachings about communism and set rolling the movement that phased out capitalism, tradition and culture in culture. This is what is commonly known as the Cultural Revolution. The movies discussed in this essay try to bring back a picture of the Cultural Revolution through various events that depict the struggle that took place then and the various events that could be observed. The ideals of Mao such as forgiveness are depicted in the movies to paint a picture of what would have happened in the Cultural Revolution. References Clark, P. (1987). Chinese Cinema: Culture and Politics since 1949. New York: Cambridge University Press. Clark, P. (2008). The Chinese Cultural Revolution: A history. Cambridge University Press. Dissanayake, W. (1988). Cinema and Cultural Identity: Reflections on Films form Japan, India and China. Lanham: University Press of America. Hsiao-peng Lu ed, S. (1997).Transnational Chinese Cinema: Identity, Nationhood, Gender. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. Silbergeld, J. (1999). China into Film: Frames of Reference in Contemporary Chinese Cinema. London: Reacktion Books. Yingjin Z., Zhiwei, X. (1998). Encyclopedia of Chinese Film. London: Routledge. Read More