Susan Jacobson (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} susanjacobson) wrote,@ 2007-04-05 12:11:00 |
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The Coolest Thing Ever
According to this story in Danwei, the Chinese Government has banned a film festival in Yunnan because it featured a documentary about the Cultural Revolution called "Though I am Gone."
The film is freely available on YouTube, in 10 parts with English translation. Start with the video above.
"Though I am Gone" tells the story of Bian Zhongyun, the first teacher to be beaten to death by Red Guards during Cultural Revolution. She was the principal of the Girl's Middle School associated with Beijing Normal University (Beijing Shi Fan Da Xue) - the top teacher's college in the People's Republic of China.
In 1982 the Chinese Government declared a moratorium on publication of all materials related to the Cultural Revolution which officially ended with Mao's death in 1976. No books, memoirs, articles - certainly no films about the Cultural Revolution were to be published in China without the permission of Chinese Central Authorities - and they were not likely to grant permission. This is why "Farewell My Concubine," "The Blue Kite" and "To Live" were all banned from China. Technically, the ban has not been lifted since 1982, although it has not been rigorously enforced in recent years. You can get copies of "Farewell My Concubine" in most of the illegal DVD stores in Beijing. It's not clear why the Chinese government would be interested in banning this one film. It is possible that individuals who are still in power in China may be somehow connected with the story.
According to this story in Danwei, the Chinese Government has banned a film festival in Yunnan because it featured a documentary about the Cultural Revolution called "Though I am Gone."
The film is freely available on YouTube, in 10 parts with English translation. Start with the video above.
"Though I am Gone" tells the story of Bian Zhongyun, the first teacher to be beaten to death by Red Guards during Cultural Revolution. She was the principal of the Girl's Middle School associated with Beijing Normal University (Beijing Shi Fan Da Xue) - the top teacher's college in the People's Republic of China.
In 1982 the Chinese Government declared a moratorium on publication of all materials related to the Cultural Revolution which officially ended with Mao's death in 1976. No books, memoirs, articles - certainly no films about the Cultural Revolution were to be published in China without the permission of Chinese Central Authorities - and they were not likely to grant permission. This is why "Farewell My Concubine," "The Blue Kite" and "To Live" were all banned from China. Technically, the ban has not been lifted since 1982, although it has not been rigorously enforced in recent years. You can get copies of "Farewell My Concubine" in most of the illegal DVD stores in Beijing. It's not clear why the Chinese government would be interested in banning this one film. It is possible that individuals who are still in power in China may be somehow connected with the story.
