The Mao Years, 1949-1976

"I don't think he ever had any moral principles," says one interviewee of China's legendary 20th-century leader Mao Zedong. Regardless, the man who wrested power from the Nationalists and created the Communist People's Republic of China was one of the most influential figures in world politics during the latter half of this century. Sue Williams' impressive film is the second in a proposed trilogy (the first was her award-winning China in Revolution, 1911-1949, released in 1989). Combining generous amounts of historical footage of Chinese village and city life, with interviews from former Red Guard activists, Chinese elders (who vividly recall the great famine of the early 1960s in which 30 million Chinese perished), and even Mao's personal physician, The Mao Years follows the rise of the Communist Party under Mao's often self-contradictory leadership. Viewers for whom terms like the "The Great Leap Forward" or the "Cultural Revolution" are linked in a sort of fuzzy way to recent Chinese history will not only understand the references after watching this outstanding chronicle but, more importantly, will comprehend the steps--some logical, some tragic, some tied to the whims of Mao--involved in building the "new China." Together, China in Revolution and The Mao Years offer an illuminating and comprehensive overview of China's history during this century. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)