The Red Detachment of Women (1970 film)

The Red Detachment of Women
Directed by
  • Pan Wenzhan (潘文展)
  • Fu Jie (傅杰)
StarringXue Jinghua
CinematographyLi Wenhua (李文化)
Music byLiu Shida (刘士达)
Production
company
Beijing Film Studio[1]
Release date
  • 1970 (1970)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryChina
LanguageMandarin

The Red Detachment of Women (Chinese: 红色娘子军; pinyin: Hóngsè Niángzǐjūn) is a 1970 Chinese filmed performance of the Chinese ballet of the same name (originally produced in 1964) – which itself was a version of director Xie Jin's original 1961 film. The style is called 'yangbanxi' (revolutionary model dramas).[2] It is one of eight approved revolutionary model dramas made during the Cultural Revolution. The film was screened at the 32nd Venice International Film Festival, marking the first time a Chinese film was presented at Venice.[3] A Beijing Opera version was filmed by the August First Film Studio in 1972.[4]

Plot summary

In the 1930s, on Hainan Island, the heroine, Wu Qinghua, escapes from Nan Batian, an evil landlord, and becomes the leader of a women's militia, under the guidance of Hong Changqing, a Communist Party secretary.[2]

Cast

  • Xue Jinghua as Wu Qinghua
  • Liu Qingtang as Hong Changqing
  • Song Chen as Company Commander
  • Li Xinying as Xiao Pang, the Messenger
  • Li Chengxiang as Nan Batian, the Tyrant
  • Wan Qiwu as Ou Guangsi, Nan Batian's lackey

World Events

On 11 November 2012, in Washington, D.C., a panel discussion with Ambassador Chas W. Freeman, Chi Wang, Carma Hinton, and Michael Chang discussed the effect this film had on the Cultural Revolution and on Chinese film.[2]

References

  1. ^ 中国艺术影片编目 p962
  2. ^ Mosk. (8 September 1971). "Red Detachment of Women". Variety Film Reviews, Vol. 13. Garland Pub. p. 125.
  3. ^ 中国艺术影片编目 p970

Sources

China Movie Material Institute, ed. (1981). 中国艺术影片编目 (1949-1979) [China Art Film Catalog (1949-1979)] (in Chinese). Beijing: Culture and Arts Press.