Highly recommended documentary

[Lydia Leftcoast]

I just came from seeing Morning Sun at the University of Minnesota Film Society, and I'd like to urge all of you to go see it if it comes to your town or shows up on PBS or cable.

What's it about? you ask. Well, it's a history of China's Cultural Revolution as told partly by people who lived through it.

Here in the States we got news reports of gangs of teenagers beating people up, vandalizing historic and artistic monuments, and waving little red books in the air, but this film effectively uses archival newsreel, documentary, and entertainment footage along with interviews of both perpetrators and victims to tell why the Cultural Revolution occurred and explain the subtle twists and turns that we never heard about here in the States,

Despite having talked with survivors both here and in China, I didn't know, for example, that the original Red Guard movement was supplanted by a second movement that splintered into literally warring factions.

The documentary opens with a film of a performance of The East is Red, one of the first "revolutionary operas" in 1964 (like all such works, it's so bad that it's good) and explains what the political situation was at that time. We learn what led to Mao's quest for ideological purity, how he encouraged a student rebellion at one school and let it grow into a nationwide movement, and how he used the Red Guards to control his political rivals. Most fascinating are the interviews with the now middle aged former Red Guards, who explain why they were attracted to the movement and what was going through their heads as they carried out their destructive campaigns.

We also hear from some of the victims. An elderly artist tells how he knew that the Red Guards would harm his family if he fought back, so he used to his martial arts training to remain calm and centered as two Red Guards beat him bloody with their belts.

Eventually, the movement both disintegrated into aimless infighting and created a generation of disillusioned youth. The interviewees each relate the paths by which they came to see the error of their ways.

The documentary should appeal to anyone interested in politcs, social psychology, or East Asian studies, as well as anyone who remembers the era of the Cultural Revolution.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Chinese jump rope kick

And yes, I actually saw kids playing Chinese jump rope in China.

[Faygo Kid]

2. Thanks for the heads up. Will look for it.

Hope you have seen "Fog of War." It's a must-see.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. I think it's actually in town now

(Fog of War, that is). I hope I can catch it before it leaves town, but I'm kind of booked up now.

[geniph]

4. I'll look for that, Lydia

sounds fascinating. Maybe the IFC channel will carry it after its theatrical run. I catch a lot of interesting stuff that way. Saves a trip into Seattle.