Jianguo Daye (Lofty Ambitions of Founding a Republic)

[GeneChing]

Jet & Jackie together again? What a follow up to Forbidden Kingdom (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42599)this would be...

China's birthday movie has many seeing red (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KH26Ad01.html)
By Wu Zhong, China Editor

HONG KONG - In China, a novel, a movie or a song is often considered to bear political and ideological implications, and publication of fiction or the making of a movie is subject to examination and approval by the authorities. Now a new movie is provoking a tumult of narrow-minded nationalism that runs deep in Chinese society and is on the rise as China gains self-confidence.
The view that the arts are a vehicle for politics originated in the late 1950s, when Chairman Mao Zedong said anti-party elements were using novels to oppose the party. The idea was taken to an extreme during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), when virtually all fiction publications and movies produced previously were banned as "anti-revolutionary".

China's political and ideological environment has undergone fundamental changes since the end of the Cultural Revolution, thanks to late leader Deng Xiaoping's reforms and open-door policy. Today, writers and movie producers enjoy much greater freedom, and the standards of the authorities' "examination and approval" processes have become comparatively much more lax, though censorship is still imposed.

But this decades-old suspicion of the arts has had a lasting influence on the Chinese people, with some still "censoring" works from a political or ideological perspective.

The current stir is over whether ethnic Chinese actors and actresses holding foreign passports should be allowed to appear in a film marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The movie, Jianguo Daye (Lofty Ambitions of Founding a Republic), is about preparations to found the PRC in 1949. After Japan's surrender in 1945 at the end of World War II, a civil war broke out on mainland China between troops controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the ruling Kuomintang (KMT).

In three years, communist troops had swept into control of most areas of the mainland. In 1949, the CCP moved its headquarters to Beijing in preparation for the founding of a new republic to replace the KMT's Republic of China (ROC), which fled to the island of Taiwan. The new movie tries to recreate this historic event.

The 30 million yuan (US$4.39 million) movie is produced by the state-owned China Film Group and directed by its chairman and chief executive, Han Sanping. It is scheduled for release on September 17, two weeks ahead of the 60th birthday of the PRC on October 1.

It is expected to be a big hit. As China grows stronger, patriotic and nationalistic sentiments are on the rise, and the film will tap into this. Given the movie's likely popularity, just about every Chinese actor - from superstar to starlet - wanted a role.

According to Jianguo Daye's official website, over 170 Chinese actors and actresses, including many superstars, have been signed up. An envious Hong Kong film director said, "It would be a director's lifetime dream to direct a film starring just a few of these stars. But Jianguo Daye has them all."

Many of the major roles are key historical figures, such as Mao and Zhou Enlai, the first premier of the PRC, and the stars are clamoring to be a part of this action. These include kung fu superstars Jackie Chan and Jet Li, one of the best-known Chinese actresses, Zhang Ziyi, Hong Kong actor, comedian, screenwriter and film director Stephen Chow and another Hong Kong celebrity, actor and producer Andy Lau. Directors John Woo, Feng Xiaogang and Chen Kaige are also willing to play cameo parts, even if only for a few seconds.

The fuss began after the producer publicized the cast of Jainguo Daye, with bloggers claiming that more than 20 of the actors were not Chinese nationals but foreign passport holders. This immediately provoked uproar among China's netizens,

"It is a new march into China by the allied forces of a foreign power to celebrate the birthday of our republic," one wrote on Mop.com, an entertainment website, alluding to the invasion of China by the Eight-Power Allied Forces in 1900.

Major state-controlled media such as Xinhua and China Youth Daily soon joined the debate, publishing critical commentaries. Follow-up reports in state-run media found that nine actors could be confirmed as being naturalized foreign nationals, while some were Hong Kong residents who may still be considered Chinese nationals.

Jet Li, for one, has recently bought a luxury house in Singapore and become a Singaporean. Shanghai-born actress Wu Junmei, who plays May-ling Soong (Madame Chiang Kai-shek) in the movie, director Chen Kaige, and actress Ning Jing are all US passport holders.

What particularly angers some of the public and the media is that many stars simply evade the question of nationality. Wu Junmei is frank in this regard. Grilled by the media, she admitted she was an American citizen but added, "Nationality is just a symbol which does not change the nature of one being Chinese."

Her statement only drew more harsh criticism. The allegiance of the Chinese-turned foreigners is in question. Some commentators say that when one becomes a naturalized American citizen, one must pledge allegiance to the flag, giving up loyalty to one's original nation. So how could these people still claim they are patriotic to China?

Such criticism is familiar to those who experienced the Cultural Revolution, when anything could be raised to the plane of high principle. It demonstrates how narrow-minded nationalism can be easily become xenophobia.

It is personal freedom of choice for a Chinese, celebrity or not, to become a naturalized citizen of another nation. For its part, China now opens its doors wide to foreign businesses and foreigners are welcome to invest and do business in the country. Some Chinese provinces even invite foreigners to be advisers to local governments.

So why should ethnic Chinese artists who are naturalized foreign citizens be banned from playing characters in a Chinese movie like Jianguo Daye, which is not a historical documentary but a piece of creative work? It's not as if their acting would change a chapter of Chinese history.

Weng Li, a spokesman for the China Film Group, is perfectly right. In answering media inquiries, Weng said: "The major reason for choosing an actor is not which country he is from, but whether he is suitable for and able to play the character."

It is also good to see that some Chinese commentators and bloggers remain cool in the face of growing nationalistic sentiment. "Who cares who will play in the movie? As long as it is good, I'll go see it," said one blogger on Mop.com. "For ours to become a truly open society, our minds must also become open, not just our borders," said another.

[GeneChing]

It's a party in Beijing. A communist party! :p

Beijing plugs patriotic films ahead of anniversary (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i-4oGWZ7Q3p94zyYsTUsMpLea7dg)
(AFP) – 1 day ago

BEIJING — Beijing cinemas will hand out nearly a million free movie coupons to encourage citizens to watch patriotic films as China tries to foster love of country ahead of the nation's 60th birthday.

State-run Xinhua news agency said movie-goers who buy a regular ticket from September 1-20 will be given one of the coupons.

The give-away period corresponds with the release of patriotically themed domestic films such as "Jianguo Daye", which chronicles the founding of communist China, in the run-up to National Day on October 1.

The film, featuring a raft of mainland Chinese and Hong Kong movie stars such as Jet Li and Jackie Chan, is set for release on September 17.

China has begun a security clampdown to prevent any disturbances to what it intends to be a glorious celebration of the day 60 years ago when Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People's Republic of China.

China will mobilise even more security for the 60th anniversary celebrations than the 100,000 police officers, soldiers and special forces deployed during the Olympic Games in Beijing in August last year, according to reports.

[SPJ]

this is a tough one.

the founding of the new republic or people's republic is supposed to help the poor and the farmers or the have not

however, it was not a success story of 60 years.

one has to deduct the years of great leap forward and the infamous cultural revolution.

let us see, 1958-1961, 1966-1976. give or take 60-15=45.

during those years of fake production increases, shipping real food to rot in the city warehouse, when millions of farmers eat tree roots and wild herbs.

farmers were melting cooking wares and farming tools to produce "steel" day and night on make up "refineries", then who is doing the farming, with no tools,--

cultural revolution---

yes all the possible Mao"s successors were removed. Lin Biao was used to get rid of Peng Zheng (mayor of beijing), Liu Xao Qi, --- and then Lin Biao died in a plane crash--

Mao was depressed since there were no more enemies or opponents till he passed away.

these facts are known to every Chinese on the planet whether they are willing to say it in public or not is another thing.

--

history will be remembered and true stories will be told one way or another.

Communist ideologies went bankrupt.

CPC always used patriotism to gain public support.

--

[SPJ]

If the movie is about civil war from 1945 to 1949, then it is worth to see.

but most people will be bored.

not me.

but if the movie is about 60 years of communist rule.

1. under mao 1949-1976

2. under deng 1979-1992

3. under jiang 1993-

4. under hu wen

--

I dunno?

how much truth will be told?

:confused:

[SPJ]

It will be too emotional for me to watch.

since many of my relatives fought the domestic battles from 1946 to 1949.

--

I heard many personal stories about the period growing up in Taiwan.

such as at Xia Men, there were 150,000 nationalist troops waiting for ships to retreat to Taiwan, the ships never came, so they surrendered to communist troops of 1500 men.

3 regiments of communists landed on Jin Men, they were defeated on oct, 1949.

thus the security of Taiwan was "assured".

--

Nan Jing was evacuted, a light infantry scout column moved across the longest river, and took over the Presidential Hall with no resistence.

--

Shang Hai was supposed to be defended for 6 months. 10 days of conflicts on the outskirts, the troops were withdrawn, except one army. the survived soldiers complained that no withdrawal orders for them. General Tang Eng Bo was only criticised in Taiwan. He passed away in Japan.

---

on and on

:(

[GeneChing]

I love playing 'spot the cameo'. I also find 'propaganda' films fascinating.

China injects star power into anniversary film (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jC9FHUhmam1K9PqXuyaKZDnjzH3AD9AF8MQO0)
By MIN LEE (AP) – 1 hour ago

HONG KONG — China's staid cultural commissars are turning to the likes of Jackie Chan and Jet Li, hoping that an injection of star power into a state-funded movie about the communist revolution will attract young Chinese normally turned off by government propaganda.

"Jian Guo Da Ye," or "The Founding of a Republic," which opens in two weeks, was commissioned to mark the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic on Oct. 1. In retelling the tale of communist triumph known to all Chinese, the movie's cast reads like a "Who's Who" of the Chinese film industry. Besides Chan and Li, there's Zhang Ziyi of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Tiger," Stephen Chow of "Kung Fu Hustle" and action picture director John Woo, among many others.

The inclusion of the stars — many of whom make nothing more than brief cameos — highlights the Communist Party propaganda czars' increasing recognition that to get the attention of the iPod-toting, Nike-wearing set, they'll have to put out a slicker product.

Not long ago, China's state-supported film and TV studios turned out exclusively predictable fare on tight budgets, often focusing on dowdy revolutionary heroes who were decidedly out of sync with the well-dressed singing idols and action stars coming out of trendsetting South Korea or Westernized Hong Kong. Chinese stars who made it in Hong Kong or Hollywood mostly kept the mainland industry at arm's length.

But as entertainment options have multiplied in China's booming economy — from big Hollywood releases to pirated DVDs to YouTube-style video-sharing Web sites — the Communist Party's Propaganda Department has been forced to adapt to get its message across to reach savvy youngsters normally disdainful of official media.

Meanwhile, ethnic Chinese filmmakers who made good abroad are sensing the huge potential of the mainland market — and know it's politically smart to get on board with the anniversary film to ensure future success. While still small compared to the U.S., the Chinese box office is growing rapidly fueled by a flurry of movie theater construction, surging more than 30 percent to 4.3 billion Chinese yuan ($630 million) in 2008. U.S. box office revenues reached nearly $9.8 billion last year.

After 16 years in Hollywood, Woo returned to China two years ago to make the $80 million two-part historical epic "Red Cliff." Chan and Li's 2008 kung fu film "The Forbidden Kingdom" was a U.S.-Chinese co-production shot in eastern China. And Oscar-winning Taiwanese director Ang Lee agreed to edit a line in his 2007 spy thriller "Lust, Caution" to make it less obvious that a lead character helps a Chinese traitor in Japanese-occupied Shanghai — conforming with official sensibilities of patriotism.

"The Founding of a Republic" is unusual because it "combines the core of an 'ethically inspiring' film" — code for propaganda films — "and commercial packaging," said Gao Jun, deputy general manager of the New Film Association, one of China's top multiplex chains.

Gao said he and fellow theater owners expect a hit because its sheer celebrity power will help draw young viewers. But don't expect them to be wooed by the rhetoric, he said.

"They won't pay attention to anything else. They'll just be counting the stars," he said.

Already the film is generating buzz, but not all of it welcome. An online debate has focused on whether some of the big stars had acquired foreign passports and were therefore unfit to appear in a patriotic movie. "Farewell My Concubine" director Chen Kaige, who has a walk-on as an enemy general, was said to be a U.S. citizen and Li a Singaporean.

Chen denied he had switched citizenship while at a film awards ceremony in Beijing last weekend. Without addressing his nationality directly, Li was quoted by Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po as saying recently, "no matter where I go, my heart will always remain in the motherland."

"The Founding of a Republic" was commissioned by the main film regulator and made by the powerful state-owned China Film Group, which is involved in most major productions on the mainland and controls the import of foreign films. The movie will be released nationwide on Sept. 17 with 2,000 prints of the film, nearly one for every two of China's 4,100 screens.

Film Group chairman Han Sanping, who co-directed with Huang Jianxin, personally asked some of the celebrities to take part. "Everyone has to show their respect if Grandpa San asks," Woo's regular producing partner, Terence Chang, said, referring to Han by his nickname.

Hence, many of the stars in the movie worked for free, helping keep the movie's budget to a modest 60 million yuan ($8.8 million) to 70 million yuan ($10 million), said China Film Group spokesman Weng Li.

But rumor has it that audiences will have to pay close attention to catch all of the appearances. The lead roles — like revolutionary leader Mao Zedong — will be played by lesser known actors.

Chan, the world's best-known ethnic Chinese star, plays an unnamed journalist, reportedly only delivering a few lines. "Crouching Tiger" star Zhang Ziyi is an unidentified representative from the cultural sector. Woo's character shows up in one of the trailers but was left out of the final cut, producer Chang said.

Still, agents and representatives of the stars said it's enough to be seen. "Every actor and every director will feel very honored if he or she could take part in this movie," said Huang Bin, the agent for director Chen.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[SPJ]

yes. my brothers and I will get a copy of dvd once it is released.

there are 3 ways to look at events in 1949.

1. politically: mao was able to rally all democratic fronts and people to his side and work against Chiang--

2. militarily: Lin Biao success in the northeast had turn the tide into Mao's favor--

3. small people: superinflation, devaluation of jin yuan juan gold dollar bill, shortage of food and goods due to floods, draughts, civil war--

in communist "liberated" area, farmers had foods.

in nationalist ruling area or guo tong qu, life was just unbearable, with collapse of economics, any war efforts against the commie were unsustainable.

US stopped all aids to Chiang. Chiang was forced to "Step down". Li zhong ren assumed the acting presidency to conduct a peact talk in april and failed.

in the new year address, Mao wrote revolution will be completed fully and not halfway, ge ming yao gang dao di. meaning no peace talk. Mao will topple the government in nanjing before any rest.

--

--

the rest is history.

we will see how much truth will be told in the film.

:(

[SPJ]

TV show about Teresa Teng or Deng Li Jun starting pop songs in China in the 70s and 80s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZjnx0zzefA&feature=sub

The void created by 10 years of cultural revolution was quickly filled with Teresa Teng.

:cool:

[SPJ]

TV show about Teresa Teng or Deng Li Jun starting pop songs in China in the 70s and 80s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZjnx0zzefA&feature=sub

The void created by 10 years of cultural revolution was quickly filled with Teresa Teng.

:cool:

I meant the political yoke was lifted. Chinese culture quickly took root or came back and bloomed or flourished on the mainland once again.

:cool:

[SPJ]

what I meant to say is that

not political propaganda

not reiteration of military conflicts

--

but mentioning of culture restoration on the mainland.

chinese culture binds chinese on both sides of taiwan strait together.

despite of 60 years of political separation.

we are flowing the same blood and share the same cultural and historical roots/heritage.

thus we must work together to iron out political differences peacefully

and become one nation again in some points in the future.

etc etc

tong gen tong yuan: we are of the same roots and from the same sources.

both in culture and in blood.

:D

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN7emQoYueE

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKFhELwBu94&feature=related

Jet Li played a nationalist navy officer.

:cool:

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdTGlQG434Q&feature=related

Zhang guo li played CKS.

3 things to overcome.

1. lose weight.

2. personality

3. zhe jiang accent.

:cool:

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIjozzg6x88&NR=1

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN8DbHCNpCI&feature=related

Jackie Chan played a reporter.

steven chow unable to play a role.

:)

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6e_EXpgFVM&feature=related

andy lau played head of CKS's bodyguards.

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KNb7cfnHBI&feature=related

zhang guo li needed to lose weight to play CKS.

chen kun needed to gain weight to play Chiang Jin Guo.

:)

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jC7SWy4u_M&feature=related

the main characters.

:cool:

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvsi1HS0n0Y&feature=related

world premier ceremony

WOW. this move really recruited over 170 Chinese actors and actresses from mainland, hong kong and Taiwan--

so many "stars".

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzna9yDpQCk

Zhao Wei played a woman representative that select the flag and anthem for PRC.

I like Zhao Wei much especially in "red cliff" and "shaolin soccer".

She recently played in "mulan".

:)

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HdUUsVug1o&feature=related

wang xiao ming played Mao's bodyguard.

wang played in "legends of condor heroes"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4ScmdccOyw&feature=related

:)

[SPJ]

the scene of John Woo played in was deleted.

in final editing of the movie, many scenes were cut.

:eek:

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll4CXYJeDzo&feature=rec-fav-watch-cur_emp-exp_fresh+div

zhang guo li complained about 9 deletions.

director han san ping explained.

zhang requested for a full movie without deleted scenes for personal collection and memory.

:)

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvS6UfbrKVY&feature=related

director han talked about how he picked the actors to play the roles

1. shen and xing both

2. shen or xing. shen is more important than xing

3. without shen and xing.

shen: spirits/personalities/characters

xing: shape/form/appearance/looks

zhang guo li was second choice for playing CKS, since chen dao ming (first choice)was too busy to play. zhang guo li had to starve to lose weight.

chen kun played Chiang Jin Guo.

both do not look like the real persons (xing), so they have to focus and act in shen.

Only that Tang played Mao was not disputed. there are a lot of controversies/disputes about all the other characters.

--

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfUIYsvOnMk&feature=related

important characters

1. nationalist youth party leader

2. general chen cheng

3. general bai chong xi

4. general du yu ming

---

deng xiao ping

--

the group of directors paid much attention to the accuracy of history.

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBmwV1V2zDs&feature=related

jackie chan sang in the premier.

:)

[SPJ]

just got the dvd and watched it

actually, I sort of know many events from 1945 to 1949.

the movie is sort of cursory in many respects.

---

Jet Li showed up early in the movie, he resigned as a naval officer due to opposition to civil war.

Jackie Chan acted as a reporter from hongkong and asked general Li zhong ren, if his taking over presidency would help the country. general li was worrying about his position within KMT and did not answer the question.

Jacked Chan with half grayish eyebrows actually "laughed" or "smiled" and said general you did not answer my question.

--

I meant JC smile is a hallmark that he likes to be a comedian on the screen and in his person life. His personal life goal is to bring smiles and laughters to as many people as he can.

--

[SPJ]

Donnie Yan played Tian Han. he proposed the new national flag to be with 5 yellow stars. most representative preferred pattern choice number 1, which is a yellow star representive CPC and a yellow line across representing yellow river.

however, this design would mean a China is divided.

Donnie Yan also agreed to the national anthem to be "march of the volunteer" without changing the original lyrics which is about resistence war against Japan.

--

Zhang Zi Yi played woman representive, Zhao Wei also played woman representive.

Andy Lau showed up toward the end of the movie. He played security guard. The nationalist air force general in Guang Zhou was ready to lead a bombing wing to bomb Peiping, however, due to distance, no refueling points, this will be a way mission, no returning home.

After some thoughts, CKS played by Zhang Guo Li decided to cancel the bombing run.

--

overall, it is a good movie. however, if you know more about events during this period, this 2 hour and 15 min movie is sort of cursory or very brief in events.

--

:cool:

[GeneChing]

Author August West references THE FOUNDING OF A REPUBLIC in his review, Jackie Chan in His Mid-50s: THE SPY NEXT DOOR and SHINJUKU INCIDENT (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=870).

[GeneChing]

Anyone see this aside from SPJ? I've been wanting to, but I need to invest in a DVD-9 player again.

China plans film to mark Communist Party birthday (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ie1Qi_PKdnMW5NnsaGFpATK69oUQD9EFJOI00)
By MIN LEE (AP) – 8 hours ago

HONG KONG — After its successful propaganda movie to mark 60 years of communist rule, China's leading state-run studio is working on a follow-up timed to coincide with next year's 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.

Filmmakers are drafting the script and choosing locations for "The Founding of a Party," China Film Group spokesman Weng Li told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday.

Weng said shooting would start later this year, with a targeted release date of around July 2011. The Chinese Communist Party celebrates its 90th anniversary July 1 next year.

Last year, China Film Group released "The Founding of a Republic" to mark the Chinese government's 60th year in power. By injecting star power into the movie — Jackie Chan, Jet Li and a slew of the Chinese film industry's biggest names had cameos — the studio produced a rare box office hit for the traditionally staid genre of propaganda cinema, with the 60 million yuan ($8.8 million) production earning 415 million yuan ($61 million). Its strong results were also helped by politically correct theater operators who inundated their multiplexes with screenings.

China Film Group is hoping for a repeat with "The Founding of a Party."

Weng said he expects another all-star cast, but suggested that filmmakers may avoid the flurry of cameos that characterized "The Founding of a Republic."

He said that while many stars would take part, the focus would be "on certain characters."

[Lucas]

just read in a local publication that there will be a follow up movie called "the founding of a party" to commemorate the 60th? anniversary of the chinese communist party. less camios are expected as there will be more focus on 'specific characters'

[Lucas]

Anyone see this aside from SPJ? I've been wanting to, but I need to invest in a DVD-9 player again.

i really want to see this but dont have a copy...I just saved it on netflix, so as soon as they get it in a format for me i'll be watching it.

[SPJ]

most educated Chinese are well aware of tales during those periods.

the movie used so many stars, it is a bit confusing and even distracting, since most movie or tv series watchers are too familiar with these actors and actresses

this movie is actually a re play of an early version with not so many shining stars.

there are simply too many events to be told.

also the director tried to make the movie on a personal level or more personal insights from the characters.

but it is very difficult on such a big topic.

1. Mao's cook went back to get breakfast and was bombed. Mao refused to leave and was carried out on a stretcher. Mao was reluctant to leave for shelter, when Hu Zhong Nan was bombing Yan An etc

2. Jiang Jing Guo was not able to correct the corruption in Shang hai. He said China was so poor like a walking skeleton with bone and skin only. The relative Kong was hoarding goods in American warehouse to raise price---

3. General Li Zhong Ren was so hung up with power within KMT. He insisted on being VP--

4. President CKS said what is lost on the battle field, may not be regained on negotiation table meaning peace talk with CPC may not yield any results, now that they had the upperhand in the beginning of 1949.

----

all these personal tales may be accurate or not? but for the most part they are close enough?

---

well it is just a movie to attract attention of every one

it certainly grabbed attention of younger generation with all these stars.

so it is a more successful "movie" than the early version.

;)

[SPJ]

I think the most important quote in the movie

would be from President CKS in nanjing

"if we do not fight CPC, KMT will be in danger. but if we fight the CPC, the country will be in danger."

the economic at the time did not sustain any war effort at all.

more than half of the GDP was used to sustain the troops stationed in the northeast.

half of a million nationalist troops were holding 3 lone cities, while CPC troops numbered a million and had all the country side and resources of the northeast--

---

my point is that yes go watch the movie for the movie and not for the stars

:cool: