The Red Detachment of Women is a 1970 Chinese filmed performance of the Chinese ballet of the same name (originally produced in 1964) – which itself was a version of director Xie Jin's original 1961 film. The style is called 'yangbanxi' (revolutionary model dramas.) It is one of eight approved revolutionary model dramas made during the Cultural Revolution. A Beijing Opera version was filmed by the August First Film Studio in 1972.

Plot summary

In the 1930s, on Hainan Island, the heroine, Wu Qinghua, escapes from Nan Batian, an evil landlord, and becomes the leader of a women's militia, under the guidance of Hong Changqing, a Communist Party secretary.

Cast

World Events

On 11 November 2012, in Washington, D.C., a panel discussion with Ambassador Chas W. Freeman, Dr,. Chi Wang, Dr. Carma Hinton, and Dr. Michael Chang discussed the effect of this film had on the Cultural Revolution and on Chinese film.

Sources