Long March
In June 1944, a young doctor, Chevalier, under the threat of guns, is forced to treat a wounded man in a camp of resistance fighters (maquisards). He recognizes the man, minister of the Third Republic, called Morel by his companions. Carnot, the chief of the maquisards, is suspicious of a doctor who expressly disapproves of the resistance and wants to have him shot as soon as he has treated Morel. Philippe, who is second in command, intervenes in favor of the Chevalier. Meanwhile, peasants denounce the maquisards to the Nazis and the camp is surrounded by the Germans. The camp is saved thanks to Philippe who takes command of the group. He decides to leave the shelter and they begin the long march through the Cévennes to rally maquisard Napoleon in the Vercors...
Insights
Plot Summary
The film depicts the Red Army's Long March, a strategic retreat undertaken by the Communist Party of China in 1934 to evade the pursuit of the Kuomintang army. It portrays the arduous journey, the immense sacrifices made by the soldiers, and their determination to survive and continue the revolution.
Critical Reception
As a propaganda film produced in China, "Long March (1966)" was primarily intended to instill revolutionary fervor and educate the populace about a pivotal event in Communist history. It is difficult to assess its critical reception through Western or independent critical lenses due to its nature as state-sponsored media from that era. Its legacy is more as a historical document and a piece of political art than a subject of traditional film criticism.
What Reviewers Say
- Primarily viewed as historical propaganda from the Cultural Revolution era.
- Its value lies in its depiction of a significant event in Chinese Communist history.
- Lacks conventional cinematic analysis due to its political objectives.
Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews for this 1966 Chinese propaganda film is not readily available. Audience reception would have been largely dictated by the political climate and state messaging within China at the time of its release.
Awards & Accolades
None notable, as it was a significant propaganda film within its national context rather than a recipient of international awards.
Fun Fact
The film was produced during a period when films were heavily utilized as tools for political education and ideological dissemination in China, particularly during the lead-up to and early years of the Cultural Revolution.
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