The Founding of a Party

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The Founding of a Party
The Founding of a Party.jpg
Traditional Chinese 建黨偉業
Simplified Chinese 建党伟业
Hanyu Pinyin Jiàn Dǎng Wěi Yè
Directed by Huang Jianxin
Han Sanping
Written byDong Zhe
Guo Junli
Huang Xin
Produced byHan Sanping
Edited byDerek Hui
Music byShu Nan
Ma Shangyou
Production
companies
Distributed byChina Film Group (mainland China)
China Lion Film Distribution (International) [1]
Release date
  • 15 June 2011 (2011-06-15)
Running time
118 minutes
CountryChina
Language Mandarin

The Founding of a Party, alternatively titled in English Beginning of the Great Revival for its international release, [2] [3] is a Chinese propaganda film [ citation needed ] released in 2011 to mark the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.[ citation needed ] The film is directed by Huang Jianxin and Han Sanping, both of whom also worked on the related film, The Founding of a Republic , which features a star-studded cast of Chinese actors, including Andy Lau and Chow Yun-fat. [4] [5] The film was created by the state-owned China Film Group and depicts the formation of the Chinese Communist Party, beginning with the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911 and ending with the Party's founding congress in 1921. [6]

Contents

Plot

During the early 20th century, China is marked by political disunity and a handful of individuals, including Mao Zedong, Li Dazhao, and Zhou Enlai, envision a unified China, especially in the political crises that followed the 1911 Xinhai Revolution, which ended centuries of dynastic rule in the country. After World War I, the Western Allies gave Qingdao and Jiaozhou Bay to the Empire of Japan at the Treaty of Versailles, stirring sentiments amongst China's youth, leading to the May Fourth Movement of 1919. In March 1920, Grigori Voitinsky comes to China in an attempt to spread communism to the Far East and, on 22 July 1921, 13 representatives from throughout China meet in a Shanghai's women's dormitory to found what would become the Chinese Communist Party. [7]

Cast

ActorRole
Liu Ye Mao Zedong
Chen Kun Zhou Enlai
Li Qin Yang Kaihui
Huang Jue Li Da
Liao Fan Zhu De
Chow Yun-fat Yuan Shikai
Qi Yuwu Wang Jinmei
Wang Xuebing Bao Huiseng  [ zh ]
Zhang Yishan Deng Enming
Tong Ruixin Chen Gongbo
Fan Zhibo Cai Chang
Li Jing Yuan Keding
Bai Bing Lu Yin
Huang Lei Cao Rulin
Du Chun Xu Deheng
Wang Xinjun Xu Chongzhi  [ zh ]
Tao Zeru Zhang Xun
Liu Yiwei Duan Zhigui
Hou Yong Tang Shaoyi
Zhao Lixin Yang Mingzhai  [ zh ]
Dai XuYu Fangzhou
Li QiLin Chenru's wife
Yang Yang Yang Kaizhi  [ zh ]
Yu Shaoqun Mei Lanfang
Liu Peiqi Gu Hongming
Zhang Xilin Wang Zhengting
Leehom Wang Luo Jialun
Ma JingReporter
He YunweiFrench translator
Xu Haiqiao Qu Qiubai
Wen Ruohan Zhang Tailei
Liu Tao Consort Jin
Jing Boran Xie Zhaomin  [ zh ]
Fang Anna
Hong Jiantao Huang Xing
Bao Bei'er Peking University student
Sergey Barkovski Vladimir Lenin
Yan Ruihan Puyi
Zhang Jiaze Li Dazhao
Li Chen Zhang Guotao
Chang Chen Chiang Kai-shek
Zhou Xun Wang Huiwu
Andy Lau Cai E
Zhang Hanyu Song Jiaoren
He Ping He Shuheng
Tan Kai Chen Tanqiu
Huang Xuan Liu Renjing  [ zh ]
Michelle Ye Li Lizhuang  [ zh ]
Wang Luodan Zhang Ruoming
Che Yongli Lu Xiaoman
Liu Yunlong Jiang Baili
Liu Wenzhi Xu Shichang
Fan Wei Li Yuanhong
Alex Fong Chung-sun Yang Du
Daniel Wu Hu Shih
Zu Feng Deng Zhongxia
Lin Shen Duan Xipeng  [ zh ]
Shu YaoxuanWu Bingxiang
Guo Jinglin Zhang Zongxiang  [ zh ]
Feng DanyingZhang Cuixi
Chen Daoming V.K. Wellington Koo
Ren ZhengbinWei Chenzu
Xie MengweiDriver
Fan LeiBodyguard leader
Wang Shuoxin Li Fuchun
Li Xuejian Yang Changji
Deng Chao Chen Yi
Wen Zhang Deng Xiaoping
Xiaoshenyang
Chen Guoxing
Dong Jie Soong Ching-ling
Zou JunboZhu Qisheng
Vitalii Vladasovich Grachyov Grigori Voitinsky
Eric Tsang Ta Kung Pao reporter
Myolie Wu Yuan Shikai's concubine
Gera Shchenko Andriyan Henk Sneevliet
Du Zhiguo Policeman
Feng Yuanzheng Chen Duxiu
Pan Yueming Cai Hesen
Dong Xuan Xiang Jingyu
Tang Wei Tao Yi  [ zh ]
Angela Yeung Wing Xiaofengxian  [ zh ]
Ma Shaohua Sun Yat-sen
Zhou Jie Li Hanjun
Wang Danrong Dong Biwu
Zhang Yi Zhou Fohai
Wang Xueqi Cai Yuanpei
Wang Po-chieh Xiao Zisheng
John Woo Lin Sen
Qin Lan Su Xuelin
Ray Lui Wu Peifu
Zhao Benshan Duan Qirui
Feng Gong Feng Guozhang
Zhao ChenhaoFeng Guozhang's deputy
Nick Cheung Liang Qichao
Ren ZhongYuan Jiasheng
Zhang JianLin Chenru
Xia Fan Zhang Shenfu
Jiang ShanChen Yan'an
Zhang Shan Zhang Boling
Lin Yongjian Lu Zhengxiang
Tian Xiaojie Alfred Sao-ke Sze
Zhao ChenguangReporter
Xu ZhengDuan Qirui's deputy
Han Geng Deng Xiaoping
Yu Xiaoguang Liu Shaoqi
Fan Bingbing Empress Dowager Longyu
Jiang Wu Tao Chengzhang
Nie Weiping
Fu Xinbo Gao Junyu
Nie Yuan Chen Qimei
Lin XiangSchoolteacher
Miriam Yeung Hong Kong teenager
Alex Fong Lik-san Hong Kong teenager
Miura KenichiJapanese signatory of the Twenty-One Demands

Production

The Founding of a Party was one of 28 films promoted by the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television to mark the 90th anniversary of the Communist Party. Filming commenced on 18 August 2010 at the China Film Group Corporation's shooting location in Huairou District, Beijing.

Dubbed by the Western media as a "propaganda epic", [8] [9] the film has a final all-star cast, including celebrities from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other countries, who play the roles of various historical figures; a few notable actors include Andy Lau, Chow Yun-fat, Taiwanese-American singer Leehom Wang, [10] Hong Kong film director John Woo, [5] Taiwanese actor Chang Chen, [11] Hong Kong actor Eric Tsang, [12] mainland Chinese singer Han Geng [13] and Russian singer Vitalii Vladasovich Grachyov (stage name Vitas). [14] Liu Ye, who played a young Mao Zedong, was reported to have gained 10 kilograms (22 lb) to play his role, a feat achieved by eating 20 eggs a day. [15] Media reports claim that over 400 actors auditioned for the film's roles. [15]

During a news conference on 8 June 2011, the film's director Huang Jianxin said that the film would have several scenes cut, as the original film would have otherwise been too long for theatrical release. [16] Among the cuts were actress Tang Wei's performance as Tao Yi, an early female partner of Mao Zedong. Some media reports claimed that Mao Zedong's grandson Mao Xinyu, [17] a major-general in the People's Liberation Army, objected to her being inappropriate for the role (citing her earlier role in the erotic-thriller film Lust, Caution ). [9] A cinema group executive, however, alleged that unnamed "industry insiders" had questioned the factual accuracy of her character and denied the decision was related to Tang's role in Lust, Caution. [8]

Production values have improved over Han Sanping's previous film The Founding of a Republic , with better-lit widescreen photography created by Zhao Xiaoshi. As with Republic, Party also features musical scores by Shu Nan. Some original black-and-white documentary footage included within the film. [18] The film was also given an opportunity to shoot within the Moscow Kremlin. [19]

Sponsorship

Shanghai GM, the Chinese joint venture of the American automotive giant General Motors, announced in September 2010 that its subsidiary Cadillac had become 'chief business partner' to the film. [20] General Motors was hit by criticism upon revelations that it had sponsored the Chinese communist propaganda film. [4] [20] [21] [22] General Motors said the sponsorship was a commercial alliance initiated by its Chinese joint venture and described it as "part of a strategic alignment with the film industry". The film group spokesman said Cadillac had signed a multi-year cooperation deal with the studio, not solely for the film. [4]

Release

The premiere event of the film took place on 8 June in Beijing, prior to its official release on 15 June. According to Han Sanping, the film was shown abroad in over 10 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, South Korea and Singapore, and that the global version of the film finished editing on 8 June. [1] The theme song of the film is titled One Day. [23] The IMAX version of the film was screened in only a select 20 of the 24 IMAX theatres in China. [7] [15]

The Chinese theatrical releases of Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 were delayed until late July, possibly to ensure that The Founding of a Party received the maximum amount of attention possible. [17]

The international (overseas) release featured the alternate title Beginning of the Great Revival and a different cut compared to the domestic China version, and was released in North America, Australia and New Zealand on 24 June 2011. [16]

Reception

Two days after the box office release, the film's gross exceeded RMB 50 million, [24] and there were reports that the majority of viewers were young people. [25] However, The Christian Science Monitor reported that ticket sales were inflated by mass distribution of free tickets; staff were given time off from work to see the film. Schools and government offices had to buy large numbers of tickets. [26] Box office takings have been inflated at the expense of popular films – many complicit cinemas manually altered computerised ticket stubs for the film, allowing the viewer to see other films. [27] [28] The Chinese media was not allowed to criticise the film. [26]

A review by Derek Elley suggests that Han Sanping's idea of "selling" official anniversary films by cramming them full of celebrity cameos was not as successful in The Founding of a Party in comparison to his previous 2009 film The Founding of a Republic created to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, although the tactic still works to a lesser extent; he suggests that the use of star cameos was inherently less panoramic because the film plot is set within a smaller scope of a 10-year period, and that the concept of star cameos is "a tad less fresh". As with Republic, Party provides a strong "ooh-look! factor" due to its familiar faces; however, very few actors get a chance to build real performances in dramatic terms. He also praises the scene designs, referring to a sequence in Beijing as having a "fairytale atmosphere". Elley rates the film overall at 7 out of 10. [18]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Jonathan Landreth, 20 May 2011, China Lion to Release Chinese Communist Party Epic in North America, Australia, New Zealand, The Hollywood Reporter
  2. ↑ 10 June 2011, Epic story gets star-studded treatment, Eastday. Original article from Shanghai Daily.
  3. ↑ Patrick Frater, 21 May 2011, Party becomes Revival for int'l release Archived 24 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine , Film Business Asia
  4. 1 2 3 Associated Press, 8 June 2011, China launches star-studded propaganda movie, Yahoo!
  5. 1 2 Brian Brooks, 8 June 2011, John Woo and Chow Yun-Fat Among Chinese Stars Who Pimp for Communist Party Blockbuster, indieWIRE
  6. ↑ Chi-Chi Zhang. 'China takes no chances on blockbuster status of star-filled propaganda film 'Great Revival, Associated Press, 9 June 2011
  7. 1 2 Beginning of the Great Revival: The IMAX Experience, IMAX website
  8. 1 2 Lee, Min (26 May 2011). Tang's role in Chinese propaganda film in doubt, Associated Press
  9. 1 2 Clifford Coonan, 16 May 2011, "China's leading lady Tang Wei deemed too racy to star in Mao movie", The Independent
  10. ↑ 9 June 2011, 《建党伟业》再现五四狂飙 王力宏黄轩辩论戏PK, Sina Entertainment
  11. ↑ 9 September 2010, 张震《建党伟业》演青年蒋介石 定妆照帅气逼人, China Film Group
  12. ↑ 9 June 2011, 周润发谈《建党》造型 称曾志伟更像袁世凯, Ifensi
  13. ↑ 27 May 2011, 《建党伟业》主打偶像风 一米八韩庚出演邓小平, Sina Entertainment
  14. ↑ 10 June 2011, 《建党伟业》将映 赵立新六月大秀“四栖连环计”, Xinhua News Agency
  15. 1 2 3 16 June 2011, China turns all its attention to 'Beginning of the Great Revival', The Independent
  16. 1 2 Liu Wei, 11 June 2011, Revival ready for release with leaner cast, China Daily
  17. 1 2 Clifford Coonan, 30 May 2011, China Communists celebrate with 'Revival': 'Transformers,' 'Harry Potter' be delayed, Variety
  18. 1 2 Derek Elley, 15 June 2011, Beginning of the Great Revival (建黨偉業), Film Business Asia
  19. ↑ 14 December 2010, 'The Founding of a Party' to Film at Kremlin, CRI
  20. 1 2 "Cadillac Sponsors Communist Propaganda Film", China Auto Web. (2 September 2010).
  21. ↑ Currie, Kelley (blog, 23 September 2010). "GM's Cadillac Sponsors Chinese Propaganda Film". The Weekly Standard
  22. ↑ Picket, Kerry (blog, 17 May 2011). "GM sponsors and celebrates soon to be released Chi-Com propaganda film", The Washington Times
  23. ↑ 9 June 2011, Theme song of the Founding of a Party – One Day, China.org.cn
  24. ↑ 19 June 2011, 《建党伟业》两天收5千万 追究网上盗播, QQ Entertainment
  25. ↑ 何燕文, 19 June 2011, 上映三天冰城票房突破百万元年轻人观《建党伟业》引爆暑期高票房, Sohu
  26. 1 2 "'Princelings' in China Use Family Ties to Gain Riches". The New York Times. 17 May 2012.
  27. ↑ Ford, Peter (11 July 2011) "How to ensure a movie becomes a blockbuster in China? Trickery" The Christian Science Monitor.
  28. ↑ "Beginning of a great film controversy", 7 July 2011, The Standard
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