Description: A short introduction by Greene emphasises the comparative freedom of movement granted to him, and the lack of censorship. This is followed by a brief historical survey, culminating in the communist take-over. The remainder of the film is an uncritical travelogue showing life in Shanghai, Peking, and the provinces of Inner Mongolia and Kwei-Chow. Numerous subjects are touched upon including the progress of industrialisation, public entertainments, traditional crafts, the availability of consumer goods, re-housing and medical and educational programmes, religious toleration, etc. The impression is of an omnipresent, but benevolent, national organisation, in which everyone has their allotted place. The assumption is that such a system is desirable - Greene asserts that China is traditionally a unified state. The commonly applied critical formula is that, while not yet attaining Western standards, conditions are nevertheless greatly superior to those prevailing in the pre-communist era. The most effective part of the film is a small-scale study of life in a rural commune in Kwei-Chow. There is also some impressive Chinese film of the construction of the Amoy causeway.
Alternative Title:
Colour:Colour
Digitised:
Object_Number:PMO 9
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:1946-1975
Production Date:1965
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Greene, Felix (Production individual)
Cole, L M (Production individual)
Jeremy, John (Production individual)
Greene, Felix (Production individual)
Chih-Chiang, Hsu (Production individual)
Greene, Felix (Production individual)
Storey, Walter (Production individual)
Greene, Felix (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: engineering, civil, Chinese: Amoy causeway (object name)
society, Chinese - ethnic (object name)
society, Chinese - history (object name)
politics, Chinese - establishment: Communism (object name)
propaganda, Chinese - inspirational (object name)
China & Shanghai (geography)
China & Peking (geography)
China & Inner Mongolia (geography)
China & Kwei-Chow area (geography)
propaganda (concept)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 2
Footage: 2301 ft; Running time: 64 mins
