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China: A Century of Revolution is a six-hour tour de force
journey through the country's most tumultuous period. First
televised on PBS, this award-winning documentary series presents an
astonishingly candid view of a once-secret nation with rare
archival footage, insightful historical commentary and stunning
eyewitness accounts from citizens who struggled through China's
most decisive century. China in Revolution charts the
pivotal years from the birth of the new republic to the
establishment of the PRC, through foreign invasions, civil war and
a bloody battle for power between Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek.
The Mao Years examines the turbulent era of Mao's attempts
to forge a "new China" from the war-ravaged and exhausted nation.
Born Under the Red Flag showcases China's unlikely
transformation into an extraordinary hybrid of
communist-centralized politics with an ever-expanding free market
economy. Monumental in scope, China: A Century of Revolution
is critical viewing for anyone interested in this increasingly
powerful and globally influential country.
DISC ONE Part One: China in Revolution 1911-1949
(1989)
DISC TWO Part Two: The Mao Years 1949-1976 (1994)
DISC THREE Part Three: Born Under the Red Flag 1976-1997
(1997)
Appallingly blatant Commie propReviewed by The Mysterious Traveler, 2010-03-03
This is one of those docs that wrings its hands everytime Chaing
Chai Shek looks crossed eyed at a Communist but whenever the Reds
start slaughtering people, they cut to a peasant chuckling about
those silly overeager commie scamps as if they were just stealing
cookies from a jar.
A PBS doc designed to prop up the last major communist power in the
wake of Tienamen square, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the
Clinton Chinagate scandals. Extremely biased and manipulative of
the facts, the doc will actually damage the viewer's understanding
of Chinese history.
On top of that, the constant--"Oh isn't the Chinese Communist Party
just so warm and cuddly?" mantra especially in Ep three gets tired
real quick. I bought this when it came out on VHS and, after
watching it, instead of donating it or trying to sell it, I just
tossed it in the trash to get it out of the house and not be
confronted with the moral responsibility of spreading its
poison.
Mao killed 70 million people. Communism is not cute, pretty or
something to present is an admirable light. Like too many PBS
efforts(Did they ever apoligize for the one that affirmed that
Alger Hiss was innocent?)this is rubbish.
China: A Century of RevolutionReviewed by Miami professor, 2010-02-22
I teach a course on contemporary Chinese politics, in which most students have little background. These disks are ideal in providing that, allowing students to associate the often-difficult Chinese names with faces and personalities. And doing it in an engaging fashion.
china: a century of revolutionReviewed by Michael Orapello, 2010-02-18
I lived in China for many years in my youth. Very educational. I highly recommend it to others.
Excellent Overview, But Sometimes Lacking DetailReviewed by Loyd E. Eskildson, 2010-02-07
"China: A Century of Revolution" is a six-hour video that covers
its history during the 20th century - beginning while it was still
ruled by an emperor and looked much like it had hundreds of years
ago, and ending with the economic revolution initiated by Deng
Xiaoping. Much of that period was consumed by fighting - starting
with the emperor's overthrow, then Sun Yat Sen's coalition
(supported by Russia) to oust foreigners and the warlords drawing
support from them, followed by combat between Mao's Red Army and
Chiang Kai Shek's Nationalists while also fighting the Japanese
invasion, and finally ending with the resumption of the Civil
War.
Disc #1 takes viewers through the end of the Civil War. Russia's
condition for supporting Sun Yat Sen was that he allow Communists
to join. Accepting, Sun Yat Sen then appointed Chiang in charge of
the military academy, with Chou En Lai his assistant. Sun died in
1925, leading to a struggle over leadership. In six months he
defeated 34 warlords, and planned to purge the Communists upon
taking Shanghai. Thousands were executed across the nation in the
unexpected action; at that point Chiang's forces controlled China's
heartland. He then led modernization programs in technology,
medicine, transportation, and education, while the Communists
rebuilt support in the cities based on the brutal labor conditions
- 17-hour work-days and child labor, holding out Russia as the
example of Utopia. Meanwhile Mao lead a group in southern China's
rural areas - peasants there were upset about high rents, taxes
being collected decades in advance, landlords taking the peasants'
children as brides and slaves. Mao encouraged the peasants to rise
up and expropriate landlords' property, formed the Red Army, and
ended the practice of women being second-class citizens (bound
feet, arranged marriages). Chiang's efforts to defeat the Red Army
and its guerrilla tactics (lure the Nationalists in, then surround)
were defeated four times before winning with a change of tactics
and one million soldiers aided by planes and cannon.
1934 saw the Communists losing badly in the south; Mao then led
87,000 to break out of the area on the 'Long March' (6,000 miles) -
en route Mao was declared head of the army, replacing a Russian
advisor who was blamed for their defeats. Only 6-7,000 survived the
march. Meanwhile, Japan began taking over parts of northern China,
without opposition from Chiang - he saw the Japanese forces as far
superior. This angered many Chinese. Mao wanted the two sides to
unify against the Japanese - Chiang refused until his #2 kidnapped
him and he was forced to agree. In 1941 Chiang broke the unity by
attacking Red Army units, declaring them a bigger menace than the
Japanese. U.S. leaders tried to re-unite, but favored Chiang
despite obvious concerns about corruption. After WWII the Civil War
continued full throttle, and Chiang made the error of overextending
his forces. Many deserted to the Reds (with their new U.S.
equipment), and Mao built support through land reform. Chiang
retreated to Taiwan in 1949, and on 10/1/1949 the People's Republic
of China was formed.
Disc #2 is taken up by the Mao years, beginning with the civil war
victory in October of 1949. People looked forward to a different
type of revolution - one that would create a strong, industrialized
China. The emphasis was on equality, with granting women's' rights
one of the government's first actions. No more arranged
marriages.
Work units were set up, giving the Chinese Communist Part (CCP)
direct control over everyone's lives. Peasants were given the land
held by landlords, and an estimated hundreds of thousands died in
the transition. Seeking assistance, China undertook a pact with the
U.S.S.R., and soon after 250,000 thousands swarmed into North Korea
to fight against the Americans. An estimated one million plus
Chinese died. After the war, the government encouraged informers to
report capitalists, those with ties to the prior regime or
foreigners. Those reported were often led away, and many executed.
Nonetheless, life was better for most Chinese.
However, payment for the Soviet advisers and new industrial
projects created an expectation for the rural farmers to increase
production. Socialized farming and the collectivization of
everything, including homes, followed. Farmers were only allowed to
keep minimal amounts for themselves, production didn't increase,
and there was wide-scale resentment.
Responding to the resentment, Mao in 1956 called for constructive
criticism ("Let 100 Flowers Bloom") to assist improvement.
Criticism did follow, but the intensity of reaction to corruption
and the poorly performing economy was far more intense than
anticipated. Reacting to rumblings within the government assembly,
Mao reversed course and condemned the critics in 1957. A
misunderstanding of his speech created an unofficial drive to
identify and punish the assumed 10% who were 'rightists,' prison
camps for about one million, and the silencing of
intellectuals.
Mao's 'Great Leap Forward' began in 1958 with the goal of doubling
output in 15 years; the previous five years had already
accomplished this. Children were placed in community care centers
so their parents could work day and night. Local steel-making was a
major component of the program - the furnaces eventually had to be
fueled by reclaimed wooden coffins, and metallic home possessions.
The resulting steel was mostly poor quality and useless, due to the
primitive methods used.
The CCP then returned to farming, and inflated expectations of
production. The false expectations were met with false production
reports, leading to even higher expectations. Meanwhile, about 30
million starved to death. Eventually Mao initiated the Cultural
Revolution in 1966 in which 'Red Guard' brigades went out into the
countryside to attack capitalists, western ideas, and old ways -
the presumed causes of China's problems. About 400,000 were killed,
including many officials. Mao ended this purge by calling out the
army in 1968.
At about the same time China had a fallout vs. Russia, Russia
withdrew its advisers, and there was a armed brief conflict on the
China-Russia border. Seeking a counterbalance, China encouraged
rapprochement with the U.S., and President Nixon arrived in 1972.
After Mao's death, the people slowly realized he had been a
disaster. Yet, for a time his followers continued to lead.
Disc #3 begins with China turning away from Mao - the Red Guards
were shelved and sent out to the fields to work, and the 'Gang of
Four,' led by Mao's wife, were arrested. However, Mao's thoughts
still dominated. Deng Xiaoping maneuvered to the leadership role,
and started his pragmatic leadership by exonerating those the Red
Guards had sent to labor camps. The 'Democracy Wall' was
established in 1978 Beijing, intended to support Deng's moves and
the suppression of the Gang of Four - however, criticisms of the
CCP led to its closure in 1979. Meanwhile, the 1978 drought led to
experimentation, experimenting with the 'Household Responsibility
System,' and soon afterwards, the end of commune farming. That same
year also brought the 'one child' proclamation.
Four Special Economic Zones were established and provided roads,
electricity, and worker apartments - most importantly, foreigners
were welcomed. At first the 'outsiders' were from Hong Kong and
Taiwan.
The Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989 was the outgrowth of weeks of
unrest protesting corruption, economic problems, and lack of
Democracy. An estimated 200 died. The involved students were
retaliated against when they received their work assignments.
China:A Century of RevolutionReviewed by John L. Pesda, 2009-01-12
China: A Century of Revolution ranks among the best historical documentaries I've ever seen. It presents a balanced perspective on the history of China during the 20th century. I especially recommend it to teachers for use in the classroom. Selective use of it can significantly improve student learning and interest in the subject. The film is enhanced by the interviews with Chinese from different generations, geographical locations and economic circumstances. Documentary footage from the early 20th century is a plus as is the depiction of China during World War II and the revolution of the 1940s. It carefully examines the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution and emphaizes the terrible toll these movements took on the Chinese people. Finally it provides valuable insights on the transition from Mao and the contributions of Deng. A must for all educators and people with an interest in China.
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