Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

BlazeLime Strong and Moving!

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

gring0 The man killed possibly 50 million people; a population the size of Canada in 3 years alone during the Great Leap Forward. Teachers in the city I am writing this, Peking, were tortured and murdered by the thousands amidst 10 years of chaos. But hey! At least they closed down schools and promoted mind-numbing Peking Opera and gave women the freedom to work like slaves like the men. And he let the Dalai Lama escape, after (neglecting to mention that Mao was the one who invaded Tibet and massacred countless numbers). Imagine mocking a humorous documentary about Stalin or Hitler! But because the millions of dead were only little yellow Chinamen, their deaths don't deserve consideration and Americans for whom this was made who know nothing about the history can enjoy the infantile animation and music. www.tracesofevil.blogspot.com

tallyhooo "The Passion of the Mao" starts out promisingly enough. Its cute cartoon scenes cause chuckles, and the overt comparison to Jesus is both a welcome mockery of Mel Gibson's film of a similar name and an indication that the subject matter will be treated lightheartedly. A little cheeky irreverence, especially with controversial topics, is always welcome. And yet the joking tone conceals some egregious conclusions. From Mao's victory in 1949 through to his death in 1976, this film would have you believe that everything is roses. Industrial output is up, agricultural output is up, life expectancy is up, education is up. Even famine and social unrest get a positive spin. That Mao was eccentric but harmless, and more importantly, blameless, is the byline. Numerous Chinese scholars at American universities are interviewed to that effect too, and viewers will have a fun time trying to spot a single negative word. "Westerners lapped up the idea that Chinese citizens in the 60s and 70s were victims," criticises one. Well, dear, that's because many of them were. And so it goes on. Finally, the filmmakers chose a narrator with abysmal Chinese pronunciation, and didn't include subtitles for some of their interviewees' whose English was a chore to follow. But as finishing touches on a flawed film, I suppose it's fitting.

lingling-8 My father is from China. My whole life he's been lecturing me about the greatness of Chairman Mao. But the way my Dad explained Mao, it was boring. And who wants to be lectured about history by their father? Finally, Director Lee (who is not even Chinese) has told Mao's story in a funny irreverent way that is a gas to watch. He has told the story that Chinese like my father, who lived through the Cultural Revolution, have always wanted to tell. And he has told it in an American idiom that appeals both to Chinese and to Western audiences. Mao is not the villain that my white liberal friends. who know a little about China but not too much, are always trying to make him out to be. Sure, Mao made mistakes, some very big ones as Feigon is very clear to note. And Mao's personal life was definitely kinky. My father never told me about this side of Chairman Mao's life. But in a way it made the old guy more human.I had tears in my eyes towards the end of this film, though it's not at all a tear-jerker type film. Why can't all documentaries be like this? Why couldn't my father have told Mao's story like this?

sunshine-cousin This was a great movie! Its style was unlike that of any documentary I have seen before. While most documentaries these days seem to feel that they can inform you by being deadly dull, maybe with an occasional joke thrown in, this one kept you in stitches almost throughout. Moreover, the laughs and the goofy style had a purpose. Director Lee Feigon was trying to restore Mao's reputation but also to attack the Chairman's deification. Feigon shows that Mao deserves credit for much of the growth for which his successors have taken credit. The goofy tone Feigon uses not only makes the movie go faster but does a great job in demolishing the myth that Mao was once a god. And so we find out some of the wackier even perverse elements of Mao's private life.