Xiao’s long march
China has a standing army of more than one million men. For eighteen year old Xioa Zhenning, a poor boy from the province who is unemployed and fed up with life in his parents’ two room apartment, the red army is a place of last resort. Director Wu Gong follows Xiao’s footsteps during his three-month basic training.
Social interest
In practice, military service with the PLA is entirely voluntary; because of China’s large population and therefore the large number of individuals who volunteer to join the regular armed forces, a draft has never been enforced. The People’s Liberation Army recruits many young men through large-scale campaigns. One of these recruits is Shao Zhenning, an academic failure who lies around all day, smoking in his parents home. Shao’s impoverished parents are at wits end. The army seems Shao’s best option.
In practice, military service with the PLA is entirely voluntary; because of China’s large population and therefore the large number of individuals who volunteer to join the regular armed forces, a draft has never been enforced. The People’s Liberation Army recruits many young men through large-scale campaigns. One of these recruits is Shao Zhenning, an academic failure who lies around all day, smoking in his parents home. Shao’s impoverished parents are at wits end. The army seems Shao’s best option.
About the series
Interesting Times is a much celebrated four part series showing different aspects of modern life in China. THE WAR OF LOVE is a portrait of a marriage broker. SHAO’S LONG MARCH is about the Chinese army. THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS shows how Chinese politics are implemented in the countryside. And THIS HAPPY LIFE aims to define the concept of political education in China. The series was made as a result of a workshop at the IDFA forum
Interesting Times is a much celebrated four part series showing different aspects of modern life in China. THE WAR OF LOVE is a portrait of a marriage broker. SHAO’S LONG MARCH is about the Chinese army. THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS shows how Chinese politics are implemented in the countryside. And THIS HAPPY LIFE aims to define the concept of political education in China. The series was made as a result of a workshop at the IDFA forum
Political interest
In the 1980s, China shrunk its military considerably to free up resources for economic development. Yet for the past 15 years, the growth rate of the military spending of China has expanded more than 10 percent per year. The DIA estimates that the actual Chinese military budget for 2008 could be anywhere from USD $85 to $125 billion. The 2008’s upper estimate suggests China’s budget as the World’s 2nd highest expenditure, around 20% of the United States’ Expenditure, Twice that of the Russian Federation, and around 3 times as much as Japanese military expenditure.Style
A striking element in XIAO’S LONG MARCH is the total lack of self-consciousness in the presence of the camera.
In the 1980s, China shrunk its military considerably to free up resources for economic development. Yet for the past 15 years, the growth rate of the military spending of China has expanded more than 10 percent per year. The DIA estimates that the actual Chinese military budget for 2008 could be anywhere from USD $85 to $125 billion. The 2008’s upper estimate suggests China’s budget as the World’s 2nd highest expenditure, around 20% of the United States’ Expenditure, Twice that of the Russian Federation, and around 3 times as much as Japanese military expenditure.Style
A striking element in XIAO’S LONG MARCH is the total lack of self-consciousness in the presence of the camera.
Scenes
- Intolerable situation at home
- After failing in school , the unemployed Xiao Zhenning lives with his parents in a small appartment. This scene shows how this situation becomes intolerable. The only option left for him is to volunteer for the People’s Liberation Army.
- Xiao visits recruitment festivities of the army
- Xiao visits recruitment fesitvities with his mum to gather information about the PLA and fills out a form to subscribe.
- Checks at the Army Recruitment Office
- Technology has become an important aspect in the army. Therefore the recruiters are more selective in choosing people who want to volunteer. Before Xiao is allowed to volunteer in the army they check his school history, political background (connection with the Falun Gong is unacceptable) and ask family and neighbours about his behaviour.
- Xiao’s parents get lost in emotion
- Xiao’s parents do care about their son, but there is no other way out than the army. His father explains his own situation and how he has accepted who he is; a man without money and without status. His two son’s do have to take care of themselves.
- Sixty days of boot camp
- Xiao has to survive sixty days of boot camp in the freezing cold temperatures of January. He is having a hard time. This scene shows a training in which the soldiers have to stand still for an hour.
- Xiao holds on while suffering in boot camp
- Xiao tells about his expriences in boot camp. Het thinks there is too much discipline and the whining goes on and on. In the training he focuses on becoming a machine gunner.
- Homesickness during New Year’s Eve
- Xiao and his companions in the army are having their final emotional test, which is being away from home on New Year’s Eve. They all cry and sing together, because they miss their family. It shows the importance of the family, no matter what the circumstances are.
- Xiao, from rebel to young soldier
- After sixty days of boot camp Xiao has become a soldier. This scene shows one of his exhausting trainings and his anger of not getting the chance to prove himself at university.
- New soldiers of the PLA cite the pledge
- New soldiers of the PLA, including Xiao Zhenning, pledge their loyalty to the Communist Party and to the people of China.