China: A Century of Revolution (Three Disc Set)
by Sue Williams
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DVD details
Actor: Will LymanDirector: Sue Williams
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language); Chinese (Subtitled)
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 360 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-07-10
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Zeitgeist Films
DVD Reviews of China: A Century of Revolution (Three Disc Set)
DVD Review: China:A Century of Revolution
Summary: 5 Stars
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. DVD Review: Disc 1 - too much on "Long March"
Summary: 3 Stars
So far I have only viewed Disc 1, it appears overwhelming on the "Long March" and too little on other events. The founding of the Republic and overthrown of the Qing dynasty are important events which needs more coverage. It appears there is a lack of balance on what are the important events. What about the "May 4" movement?DVD Review: Clarifying Why This Superb Exploration of China Is Must-See TV for Americans
Summary: 5 Stars
The basic Amazon description of this DVD is confusing -- and that's unfortunate because this is a terrific selection of three of Susan Williams' four PBS documentaries on China.
Contained in this set are "China in Revolution," shown on PBS in 1989; "The Mao Years," shown in 1994 -- and "Born Under the Red Flag," aired in 1997. However, if you're a PBS-and-China watcher, you should know that Williams' more recent documentary, "China in the Red," is not in this set. Personally, as a longtime journalist myself, I don't think this set suffers from its abrupt end with the decline of Deng Xiaoping. Williams' 2003 film, "China in the Red," examined the lives of a handful of Chinese workers -- but China is evolving so rapidly that I would think Susan Williams herself would want to make a completely different "Part 4" to her series in 2008 than she did six years ago when she was assembling "China in the Red."
Nevertheless -- this set is not, as the cover claims, "Definitive," about China. After six hours, the history comes to a screeching halt with Deng's decline. Plus, China watchers are likely to quibble over a whole series of points in the course of the six hours. For instance, the U.S. decision to establish full diplomatic ties with Beijing in the late 1970s is presented with a former U.S. ambassador saying, "All the Chinese were happy." Well, that certainly wasn't the case with the ethnic Chinese living in Taiwan. They were stunned and disgusted at that news. Perhaps Williams could have at least touched on that point.
Also -- if you watch this documentary at the same time you view "Manufactured Landscapes," a much more contemporary visual meditation on industrial development in China, your head will snap around at Williams' footage of workers in newer factories. She presents this as essentially good news for smiling workers. "Manufactured Landscapes" is an absolutely haunting vision of those same workers.
Having said all of that -- in an effort to clarify what this six-hour series is (and what it is not) -- my strong recommendation is: Terrific. Five stars. I've collected all sorts of books, films and other media about Asia -- especially about China -- and I can't find anything else that's this good and this encyclopedic in its documentary footage.
Americans who want to know more about China -- and can hardly put current news into perspective, because we simply don't know the background -- buy a copy of this set, watch it with a small group and find out about a global power that we're all going to know a whole lot more about in the years ahead.
DVD Review: Powerful film and video footage
Summary: 5 Stars
Most of the history was well known to me but the film and video footage brought a depth of understanding that previously eluded me.DVD Review: Excellent video footage and interviews, and gives time to both sides
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm relatively new to Chinese history and am watching to get an overview of the last century. Right now I'm at about the halfway point and so far it's been extremely interesting. The content is primarily video and interviews with people who lived at the time. They've done a very impressive job of finding former politicians and party members, as well as ordinary citizens to give testimony. They also do an excellent job of giving time to members of both the Communists and the Nationalists, so neither side is cast as the good guys or bad guys.
I only have a few criticisms. They did skip through the early part of the 20th century a little more quickly than I would have liked. I expect there just weren't many people who remembered that time well enough to give much commentary. However, starting with the Northern Expedition they have covered everything in very good detail, considering that it's only a 6 hour series.
They do at times tend to go through the events without always giving a date or reference point for what is going on, so it's easy to lose track of whats going on in reference to the rest of the world at a given time.
One other thing is that if you know Chinese pronunciations of names, then you may be mildly annoyed by the narrator's pronunciations of Chinese names. For instance the narrator pronounces Chiang as "Jang" Kai-shek (the correct pronunciation is more like Jiang).
Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives and it is very much worth watching for anyone interested in Chinese history. Even if you already know about most of the events the video footage and interviews make it worthwhile.
Description of China: A Century of Revolution (Three Disc Set)
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)
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