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Yang Ban Xi: The 8 Model Works

Play trailer Poster for Yang Ban Xi: The 8 Model Works 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 07/14/2022
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. Go to Full Review Ella Taylor L.A. Weekly 06/01/2006
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. Go to Full Review G. Allen Johnson San Francisco Chronicle 05/12/2006
3/4
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. Go to Full Review Eric Monder Film Journal International 03/01/2007
Vividly depicts the power and influence of "escapist" entertainment. Go to Full Review Jules Brenner Cinema Signals 12/30/2006
2/5
Andy Klein Los Angeles CityBeat 06/04/2006
The result often feels disorganized or confusing...but the basic material is fascinating. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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07/23/2008 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. See more 01/22/2008 an interesting 'mashup' snapshots of China from the legacy '70s and from 21st century. See more 07/29/2007 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. See more Read all reviews
Yang Ban Xi: The 8 Model Works

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Cast & Crew

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Yan-ting Yuen

Director

Yan-ting Yuen

Writer

Hetty Naaijkens-Retel Helmich

Producer

Edwin Verstegen

Cinematographer

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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