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Yang Ban Xi: The 8 Model Works

Play trailer Poster for Yang Ban Xi: The 8 Model Works Released Jan 5, 2005 1h 25m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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62% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Chairman Mao's wife commissions a series of musical works to promote the ideals of China's Cultural Revolution.

Critics Reviews

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Yan-ting Yuen offers relatively little history or criticism of the works themselves, squandering screen time on such gimmicks as mock voice-over and scenes of young people performing hard-rock and hip-hop versions of vintage songs. Jul 14, 2022 Full Review Ella Taylor L.A. Weekly This enthralling documentary, a Dutch production by Hong Kong-born female director Yan Ting Yuen, not only reclaims the Chinese propaganda opera but niftily positions it in the rush of Chinese cultural history. Jun 1, 2006 Full Review G. Allen Johnson San Francisco Chronicle A proper labor of love profiling many of the principles involved in the making of the films, peppered with a generous helping of wonderful clips. Rated: 3/4 May 12, 2006 Full Review Eric Monder Film Journal International Vividly depicts the power and influence of "escapist" entertainment. Mar 1, 2007 Full Review Jules Brenner Cinema Signals Rated: 2/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Andy Klein Los Angeles CityBeat The result often feels disorganized or confusing...but the basic material is fascinating. Jun 4, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (3) audience reviews
Audience Member This documentary is equally fascinating, with wonderful footage of the Yang Ban Xi films, but just as much frustrating in that there are many pointless scenes. It needs to be restructured. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member an interesting 'mashup' snapshots of China from the legacy '70s and from 21st century. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member A really great documentary on one of the lesser-known products of the Cultural Revolution - Jiang Qing's eight propaganda films. Includes lots of clips from the originals and bittersweet interviews with the artists whose lives were irrevocably changed. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Yang Ban Xi: The 8 Model Works

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Movie Info

Synopsis Chairman Mao's wife commissions a series of musical works to promote the ideals of China's Cultural Revolution.
Director
Yan-ting Yuen
Producer
Hetty Naaijkens-Retel Helmich
Screenwriter
Yan-ting Yuen
Production Co
VPRO Television, Scarabee Filmproducties Nederland
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 5, 2005, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Apr 10, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA)
$20.4K
Runtime
1h 25m