The Life of Wu Xun
Encyclopedia
The Life of Wu Xun is a 1950 Chinese film directed by Sun Yu
and starring Zhao Dan
. A black-white movie, it was produced by Kunlun Film Studio. It deals with a true story of a figure in Chinese history, Wu Xun
, who spent years collecting money as a beggar to eventually found a school for indigent children free of charge.
It was initially well received as one of ten best films of the year, but was soon severely criticized by Chinese authorities. It was rehabilitated in 1986.
, there emerged the very first large-scale excoriation of a film in the history of the People's Republic of China. A group of politicians, led by Kang Sheng
, leveled various charges on the film for political gain. As a result, the production staff of the film, and even the historical figure of Wu Xun
, suffered from extensive and unjust accusations. This campaign of criticism would begin a period where Party politics severely interfered with the Chinese film industry.
The reputation of the film was not completely restored until nearly forty years later, in 1986.
Sun Yu (director)
Sun Yu was a major leftist film director active in the 1930s in Shanghai. One of the core directors of the Lianhua Film Company, Sun Yu made a name for himself with a series of socially conscious dramas in the early to mid 1930s...
and starring Zhao Dan
Zhao Dan
Zhao Dan was a Chinese actor popular in the golden age of Chinese Cinema.-Biography:Zhao first became famous working in the Mingxing Film Company in the 1930s including playing opposite Zhou Xuan in Street Angel...
. A black-white movie, it was produced by Kunlun Film Studio. It deals with a true story of a figure in Chinese history, Wu Xun
Wu Xun
Wu Xun was a Chinese educational reformer who pioneered free popular education in the country. He became a hero of progressive culture in China, but in the 1960s during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution his reputation was attacked and his body was exhumed and burned.- Biography :Wu was born in...
, who spent years collecting money as a beggar to eventually found a school for indigent children free of charge.
It was initially well received as one of ten best films of the year, but was soon severely criticized by Chinese authorities. It was rehabilitated in 1986.
Criticism
The Life of Wu Xun attained its unique status in Chinese movie history because of the lengthy political criticism campaign that was enacted against it. On May 20, 1951, after the editorial Ought to Emphasize the Discussion on 'The Life of Wu Xun was published in the People's DailyPeople's Daily
The People's Daily is a daily newspaper in the People's Republic of China. The paper is an organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China , published worldwide with a circulation of 3 to 4 million. In addition to its main Chinese-language edition, it has editions in English,...
, there emerged the very first large-scale excoriation of a film in the history of the People's Republic of China. A group of politicians, led by Kang Sheng
Kang Sheng
Kang Sheng , Communist Party of China official, oversaw the work of the People's Republic of China's security and intelligence apparatus at the height of the Cultural Revolution in the late 1960s. He was a close associate of Mao Zedong and remained at or near the pinnacle of power for decades...
, leveled various charges on the film for political gain. As a result, the production staff of the film, and even the historical figure of Wu Xun
Wu Xun
Wu Xun was a Chinese educational reformer who pioneered free popular education in the country. He became a hero of progressive culture in China, but in the 1960s during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution his reputation was attacked and his body was exhumed and burned.- Biography :Wu was born in...
, suffered from extensive and unjust accusations. This campaign of criticism would begin a period where Party politics severely interfered with the Chinese film industry.
The reputation of the film was not completely restored until nearly forty years later, in 1986.
External links
- The Life of Wu Xun from the Chinese Movie Database