Communist China's founding lauded in film
The cult of Mao may be dead, but celebrity power is helping the Great Helmsman receive a Hollywood-style makeover.
The Founding of a Republic, or Jianguo Daye in Chinese, a new film from the state-owned China Film Group, is a propaganda epic that includes almost all the biggest names in Chinese film.
There are so many stars, about 172, that most have only cameo roles.
Jackie Chan is understated, in 'tache and glasses, as an un-named journalist.
Blink and you'll miss Jet Li, a navy officer who snaps Mao and Chiang Kai-shek a quick salute.
Zhang Ziyi, of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, is surprisingly dowdy as a women's committee member who advises Mao on the choice of flag for the new republic (ditch the yellow stripe, she tells the Chairman).
The film, which cost a modest £6m ($9.57m) to make - the celebs gave their services for free - has been released as part of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of Communist China 1 October. It is showing in practically every cinema in the country.
"They wanted to work in the film to show their love and their connection to the country," said the film's co-director Huang Jiangxin.
"And in the film there are so many famous characters from Chinese history, with interesting stories to tell, so there were enough roles to go around."
Fans appear unbothered by claims of hypocrisy - this gift to the motherland has actors who have given up Chinese citizenship. Jet Li, for example, now has a Singaporean passport.
'History has chosen'
So many celebrities can be distracting, says Simon Fowler, film critic for Time Out Beijing.
"It's a bit confusing to have every three minutes another famous actor appear and to have so many things going on on-screen.
"The audience was very receptive to the film, they really enjoyed it. But I don't know if it works so well because there are so many elements they've tried to bring together and it all feels a bit rushed," he said.
The film is low on action, but high on committee meetings. There is little suspense, but the defeated Nationalists are given a surprising amount of screen time.
"The film is about the battle between Mao's army and the Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek. We show which side history has chosen - who won the fight," said director Huang.
"This is the first time we have given equal length of time to show both sides of the story."
And there are other surprises for an audience in today's one-party China - Mao and his fellow revolutionaries admit that they make poor economists.
They agree they must co-operate with capitalists and supporters of democracy.
"This movie tells the story of how a government was established through one party's co-operation with many others," said Huang...
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The Founding of a Republic, or Jianguo Daye in Chinese, a new film from the state-owned China Film Group, is a propaganda epic that includes almost all the biggest names in Chinese film.
There are so many stars, about 172, that most have only cameo roles.
Jackie Chan is understated, in 'tache and glasses, as an un-named journalist.
Blink and you'll miss Jet Li, a navy officer who snaps Mao and Chiang Kai-shek a quick salute.
Zhang Ziyi, of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, is surprisingly dowdy as a women's committee member who advises Mao on the choice of flag for the new republic (ditch the yellow stripe, she tells the Chairman).
The film, which cost a modest £6m ($9.57m) to make - the celebs gave their services for free - has been released as part of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of Communist China 1 October. It is showing in practically every cinema in the country.
"They wanted to work in the film to show their love and their connection to the country," said the film's co-director Huang Jiangxin.
"And in the film there are so many famous characters from Chinese history, with interesting stories to tell, so there were enough roles to go around."
Fans appear unbothered by claims of hypocrisy - this gift to the motherland has actors who have given up Chinese citizenship. Jet Li, for example, now has a Singaporean passport.
'History has chosen'
So many celebrities can be distracting, says Simon Fowler, film critic for Time Out Beijing.
"It's a bit confusing to have every three minutes another famous actor appear and to have so many things going on on-screen.
"The audience was very receptive to the film, they really enjoyed it. But I don't know if it works so well because there are so many elements they've tried to bring together and it all feels a bit rushed," he said.
The film is low on action, but high on committee meetings. There is little suspense, but the defeated Nationalists are given a surprising amount of screen time.
"The film is about the battle between Mao's army and the Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek. We show which side history has chosen - who won the fight," said director Huang.
"This is the first time we have given equal length of time to show both sides of the story."
And there are other surprises for an audience in today's one-party China - Mao and his fellow revolutionaries admit that they make poor economists.
They agree they must co-operate with capitalists and supporters of democracy.
"This movie tells the story of how a government was established through one party's co-operation with many others," said Huang...