China Documentaries

HOME (2009)

We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth's climate.

Faster and faster, in the last 60 years, the earth's population has almost tripled, and over 2 billion people have moved to the cities. Faster and faster, Shenzhen in China, with its hundreds of skyscrapers and millions of inhabitants, was just a small fishing village barely 40 years ago.

The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being.

HOME has been made for you: share it and act for the planet.

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HOME

African boots in Beijing

A documentary film by Luke Mines and Jeremy Goldkorn about Afrika United, a team of Africans playing in a football championship league in Beijing, China.

The Yellow River (5 DVD Boxset)

Yellow River is the origin of Chinese culture where human trace of dozens of ten thousand years ago and sites of Neolithic Age have been found. It has been cultural , economical and political center of China for a long historical period since the age of the class society and is regarded as the cradle of Chinese nation. China' Yellow River is a symbol of national spirits of constantly striving to became stronger, which feeds the nation with glorious and magnificent civilizations. Follow the expedition to find the source of Yellow River and follow its entire 5500 kilometers journey to the sea in this 10 episodes (5 DVD Boxset): 1) The River's source, 2) Down River, 3) the Taer Temple, 4) Chinese Moslems of The Upper Basin, 5) The Nomads, 6) The Underground Dwellers, 7) The Cradle of Chinese Civilization, 8) Taming the Dragon, 9) The Path of Buddha, and 10) The River reaches Bohai Bay.

Medical Mecca (2004)

A controversial treatment using the stem cells of aborted foetuses is producing remarkable results. Many desperate patients see it as their only hope.

They come from all over the world in search of miracles. "We heard that people were coming over to China and they were getting better," explains Mike Thomas. "They were walking again, talking again, breathing again." China's lax safety regulations and different ethical considerations have enabled Dr Huang Hongyun to blaze a trail in this field. He is the only doctor in the world to inject stem cells directly into the brains or spinal cords of ALS suffers or paraplegics. His work has turned two pieces of conventional medical wisdom on their head -- that spinal injuries are untreatable and that ALS is impossible to stabilise. For the first time ever, Dr Huang has allowed tv cameras to film the extraordinary surgical procedure. In the words of patient Laura Jackson, "He does miracles here."

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Medical Mecca - China

China Under Mao 1940s-1970s

This video contains two films documenting life in China under the rule of Mao. The first film, (approx. 33 min) is a Chinese propaganda film produced in 1966. It is narrated in both Chinese and English. The focus is on the cultural, industrial, and military accomplishments of the Chinese people under the guidance of Mao and the communist party. Includes excellent footage of the Chinese atom bomb explosion. The second film documents Mao's military and political career from 1944-1971.

Electronic Trash in China

Electronic Trash Village - China (2007)

Every year, 35 million tonnes of electronic waste is exported to China to be scrapped. There the rubbish is broken down by hand, poisoning workers and polluting the environment. "Smoke from the computers is too strong to breathe", complains one disposal worker. "I feel dizzy and can't see any more". Many employees at the electronic disposal plant suffer from respiratory illness or skin diseases. They work for ten hours a day, with no protection from the hazardous chemicals.

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Electronic Trash Village

China's Pollution Busters - China (2007)

In the past six years, infant birth defects in China have increased by an unprecedented 40%. This rise is being blamed on pollution from factories. Now green campaigners are taking on the multinationals.

"The untreated waste is pumped out secretly at night", states activist Wu Deng Ming, pointing at a water outlet leading from a factory into a river. "People living along the river have enlarged livers", claims one local. They suffer from: "loss of appetite or cancer and all sorts of terminal diseases". Although strong laws governing pollution exist, these are regularly flouted. "Some local officials give protection to polluters", claims Ma Jun. In an attempt to put pressure on polluters, campaigners are naming and shaming guilty companies online. "We let people know that this company, with such a popular brand, is violated waste water discharge standards". There are also signs that central government is taking the problem more seriously. "The state is very serious about environmental problems", states official Zhou Linbo. Some factories have been closed down. But strong resistance to change still exists. "Polluting factories hire hooligans to deal with people they believe will damage their reputation", claims Wu Deng Ming. Other companies threaten to relocate to Vietnam or Indonesia where; "we can still discharge more of less freely".

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China's Pollution Busters

Classic 50's and 60's Communism Films - an Exploration of Communism and Despotism in the Soviet Union and China and Other Totalitarian Regimes

This is a great collection of classic Communism and alternative government viewpoints films. They show the inside story of Communism in the 50's and 60's and contrast it with Capitalism and various forms of despotic governments. This collection has a run time of 1 hour 15 minutes.

Here are the films that make up this collection: Communism - 1952 - an educational film on the Russian Communism, the cold war and its effects around the world.; The War We Are In Part II - Communism Vs Capitalism - 1962 - This is the 2nd part of a lecture given by Dr. George S. Benson, President of Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas comparing and contrasting Communism and Capitalism and discussing the dangers Communism presented to our future.; Red China Newsreel - 1959 - Film clips made by communist cameraman in China, shows Mao and other candidates in election of National People's Congress, with massive show in Peking of dancers and balloons.; The Challenge of Ideas - 1961 - John Wayne, Edward R. Murrow and other notables discuss the ideological battle between U.S. and Soviet Union.; Despotism - 1946 - an exploration of the various forms of government based on their organization and the freedoms given to people under the various types of regimes.

National Archives and Records Administration - China Film Archives

Experience the American Journey through the country's visual heritage in this historical recording provided by the National Archives of the United States. This film explores the industry and culture of the cities of Tianjin and Beijing.

These historical recordings from the National Archives may contain variations in audio and video quality based on the limitations of the original source material.

Biography - Genghis Khan

At the height of his power his empire extended from the Pacific Ocean to the Persian Gulf. But while none question his military brilliance his abilities as a statesman and ruler are often overlooked.Genghis Khan was quite simply one of the most effective rulers in human history. He fashioned his nomadic armies into the greatest fighting force the world had ever seen and extended his empire to the furthest corners of Asia and into Europe in a series of brilliant and devastating campaigns. BIOGRAPHYR travels to Asia on the trail of the great conqueror and traces his exploits through extensive location footage expert testimony and period art and artifacts. Discover how his empire was so well controlled that a traveler could go from one end of it to the other in safety and relive the epic battles that secured his place among the greatest conquerors in history.From the plains of Mongolia to the pages of history this is the riveting story of Genghis Khan.

Production Line to Picket Line (2009)

Computers, clothes and toys once poured off China's production lines, destined for the West. Now the factories are closed, millions are out of work and Chinese officials fear serious political unrest.

All of the orders vanished' says Tanley, the owner of a toy factory in Dong Guan, known as 'the factory of the world'. He's seen factory upon factory close since the autumn of last year. Often, owners flee without paying their staff. 'The local government had to pay the workers' Tanley says. For the 30 million Chinese now thought to be unemployed, there is no safety net. But the government is stepping in to control the large protests evolving out of sudden plant closures. 'We all know the workers are working in the worst situation in the world' says radio DJ and former Tiananmen Square protester, Han. But he believes the crisis has forced the government to address labour rights. 'It's a bad image to arrest workers for going on strike for legal payment - they don't want to exacerbate the tensions' he says. It's 60 years since the communists came to power and 20 years since the massacre at Tiananmen Square. Now at the sharp end of this economic crisis, the government is doing everything it can to prevent a revolt. 'This is progress in the absence of genuine democracy, a more tolerant authoritarian regime.'

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Production Line to Picket Line

China Slowdown (2009)

Chinas economy is in danger. We travel to Dongguan, the Southern market city known as the workshop of the world to discover just how the global financial crisis is bringing down the Asian Giant.

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China Slowdown

Insane: The Price of Speaking Out in China

In China, speaking truth to power has never been easy. But now, a disturbing trend: whistleblowers, dissidents, and ordinary people seeking justice declared mentally ill, hospitalized, then medicated against their will and often beaten. Victims say it is a way for Chinese officials to silence dissidents.

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Insane: The Price of Speaking Out in China

Reds Go Green (2009)

Meet the F3 the electric-powered car of the future made in China. Keen to reduce its choking emissions and limit its dependence on oil, China is spearheading new clean energy technologies.

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Reds Go Green - China

Demolition Dissidents (2009)

Economic development and the 2008 Olympics gave Beijing an amazing facelift. But when many Beijing residents were forced to evict their homes they were left struggling and angry at the political system.

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Demolition Dissidents - China

The Passion of the Mao (2006)

Part mockumentary but motivated by true events - this liberal, stream of consciousness telling of Mao's life is hilarious...and would be frowned on by billions of Chinese. Worth watching - especially for Chinese history buffs. Sprinkled with animation - this is Mao as you've never seen him.

The director brings a tremendous amount of rich primary source material to the screen with an original and entertaining perspective, uncovering the relationship between Mao's political and policy acheivements with Mao's colorful life story, marked by some of his comedically bizarre traits.

China History Documentary

The Search for Modern China

The difficulty of finding a complete, one-volume history of China is no longer a problem with publication of this work, which covers Chinese history from the 16th-century Ming Dynasty to the 1989 "China Spring" demonstrations. The 200+ photographs and illustrations, many in color and previously unpublished, include historical notes that add understanding to the art and the stories illustrated. The text is written in an informative manner that will appeal to students; their lack of knowledge of Chinese history is forstalled by the comprehensive glossary that explains phrases, people, and events. High-school teachers will bless you for buying this well-researched volume.

Spence argues that China's modernization strategies can't work unless the people are allowed to participate in political decision-making. A splendid achievement, this sweeping 1088-page epic chronicle compresses four centuries of political and social change into a sharply observant narrative. Spence offers contemporary perspectives on the British 19th-century drive to get the Chinese masses addicted to opium, Chiang Kai-Shek's secret police apparatus and proto-fascist supporters, Japan's ruthless occupation during WW II, the Mao bloodbath known as the "Cultural Revolution" and the legacy of China's bureaucratic, authoritarian Ming and Qing dynasties.

Uighur Dilemma (2009)

Ever since the violence between Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese, a fear of fanaticism has taken hold. Is the government's decision to demolish the Uighur area Kashgar really due to an earthquake threat?

Kashgar is a cultural icon. Parts of the city have stood for 2000 years and within its labyrinth, Uighur traditions are unchanged. 'We live as we did in the old times' says Tursun, a 6 generation pot thrower. But times are changing. Beijing's deputy mayor has announced that destruction of the old town is the only way to prepare for an earthquake threat.

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Uighur Dilemma - China

PBS - Frontline - Young & Restless in China (2009)

Official Website

'Young and Restless in China' is a stunning, sweeping look at a country amid a frenzied thoroughly compromised process of self-reinvention, but even a little historical context would have gone a long way in grounding the narrative journey of its subjects. Then again, utterly unrecognizable, this brave new China hardly seems grounded.

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Young & Restless in China

Al Jazeera - 101 East - 60 years communist China (2009)

As China celebrates its 60th anniversary, new land reforms could bring sweeping change to the country, affecting 800 million farmers.

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Related Videos:

The Rise of China's Economy - Sixty years after Mao Zedong's communist forces seized power, China has transformed from an economic backwater into an economic superpower.
China's Long March - China is preparing to mark 60 years of communist rule, with a lavish military parade in Beijing and celebrations across the country.
China shows its military might - celebrating 60 years since its founding with a mammoth display of national pride and ceremonial pomp.
Counting the Cost - China's Economic March - As China flexes its military muscle in celebration of the 60th anniversary of its communist revolution, Counting the Cost looks at the economic revolution that has accompanied it.

Al Jazeera - 101 East - China and the Olympics (2008)

China is pulling out all stops as its capital takes to the world stage as host of the 2008 Olympic games. Since winning the bid seven years ago, Beijing has undergone a construction boom, making this Olympics the world's most expensive games ever, at a cost of $43 billion. This week on 101 East we ask, what does hosting the 2008 Olympics mean for China and its people?

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Al Jazeera - 101 East - China's Challenges (2008)

In 25 years China has been taken from poverty to modernity, the Olympics and the brink of superpower status. But their have been costs - galloping inflation, the world's worst pollution and a social fabric that is showing the stain. This episode of 101 East asks what the future holds for China after the games.

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Al Jazeera - People & Power - Islam in China (2008)

Islam is still establishing itself in China under beijing's watchful eye and decades have been spent building a fragile trust between the country's Muslims and the Communist central government. People & Power profiles two key Chinese imams who walk a fine line between their followers and the political authorities.

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Islam in China

Channel 4 - The Fake Trade (2008)

Official Website

There are lots of people who don't care if the goods they buy are original or knock-offs, as long as they look like the real thing and they're cheap. After all, what harm can there be in buying a fake designer bag or trainers - all you're doing is denting the profits of the multinational manufacturers. But, as the first of this two-part investigation shows, it goes much deeper than that. For instance, with the counterfeit market now encompassing pharmaceutical drugs, consumers could be damaging themselves, too. Among the more eye-opening revelations is a massive seven-storey shopping mall in China selling nothing but fakes, and a peek into a backstreet factory that manufactures eggs out of industrial chemicals because it's cheaper than keeping real chickens.

Two-part series examining the global industry of fake goods and how luxury brands and large companies are struggling to fight back. The hidden victims of counterfeiting are slaves forced to work in factories, relatives of people who have died after taking fake medicines, and investors and regulators who face death after leading the battle against illegal goods syndicates. The programme also looks at how the internet has led to a rise in the number of fake medicines detected across Britain.

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The Great Firewall of China (2008)

China has the most sophisticated censorship and internet surveillance in the world. But despite this autocratic control some guerrilla bloggers are still managing to get their message through."The Government always wants to try to act as the cat to control people's access to information but I think the mouse is running faster." This is the voice of Isaac Mao, he was one of China's earliest bloggers, and has learnt how to work the system. "The Chinese government's goal is not to control one hundred percent of what people are doing one hundred percent of the time," if they are too authoritarian, they will be faced with civil unrest. As CNN correspondent Rebecca MacKinnon points out, "to remain in power they want to prevent certain uses of the internet that might lead to overthrow." Journalists like Zhang Shihe work the gaps in the censorship to broadcast their message, " I rely on my instinct. Am I telling the truth or lies? Am I trying to help improve the situation? I know if I can control this, I'll be fine." He regularly films and comments on rural working conditions, and has as yet avoided jail. But his story is not typical. With about 30 known journalists and 50 internet users known to be behind bars, the Committee to Protect Journalists has branded China "the world's leading jailer of journalists."

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Journeyman Pictures - The Great Firewall of China

Troublemakers Are Insane (2008)

Chinese authorities have got a radical weapon against troublemakers: lock them up indefinitely in police-run mental hospitals. Written off as 'dangerously ill', 'patients' are often never seen again.

Zhang, a democratic activist, was abducted by the police and taken to an institution where he's been detained alongside genuine psychopaths. As his sister tried to prove his sanity, it appeared that the motive was his political views. Another victim was incarcerated and force-fed pills for a year after challenging a court ruling. Coming out, she talked to human rights activists: 'What on earth is wrong with me that I must stay with murderers in one cell? Is there a law in this world?' Psychiatrists claim that 'patients' have pathologically distorted views of reality. Anyone opposing the Chinese government must be insane indeed.

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Journeyman Pictures - Troublemakers Are Insane