本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛********************************************************************************
作者: CALDO R , Feb 14,2003,22:19
今天早上睡不着觉,4点多就起来.没想到电视里正在播放CHINA IN THE RED!老外拍摄的中国改革的专题片.反映的内容有好有坏,十分真实!
该片选取了当今中国不同社会阶层的几个普通人物,做追踪访问,每年都去实地调查拍摄,我是从1999年看起的,一直到2002年。真的佩服他们的工作态度.现在的中国新闻工作者已经没有象他们这样愿意真正深入生活,拍些真实感人的专题了。老外比我们中国人还要关心和了解中国!
其中有工人(有首钢的，生活比较稳定。有沈阳的,起初在工作,后来下岗,有的自己做生意.有的下岗后不知下落,总之一年不如一年),有农民(湖北山区的因病贫困女儿失学,我现在理解了为什么中国城市里的很多小姐都来自农村,在农村真的没有活路!山东郭庄的?儿子17岁去北京学冰箱维修结果在拆除围墙...被提留等税外支出压的透不过气来.很多农村的年轻人去了城市!)有北京的私人企业家(明显看着生活一年比一年好,甚至生了第二胎)有著名的经济学者(其中一个是吴敬链,另一个年轻的不认识) 有北京的摄影师,有沈阳的出租车司机.总之,涵盖了当今中国各个阶层，各个方面的人物, 真实反映的今日中国人的生活,有的富裕,有的贫困.还有他们的孩子所面临的困难,和变化!
主要的城市有北京和沈阳，甚至还每年采访沈阳前市长慕绥欣(从最初的意气风发到后来的阶下囚!) 感受到了城市的巨大变化!
这部专题片的确可以说是中国这几年来的真实写照!但我相信它不会在国内播放.但真的希望国内的新闻记者们能够深入生活,深入农村，城市,社会的每个角落,多反映那些弱势群体和贫困家庭的生活和困难，让全社会知道我们现在面临的问题，正视并努力解决，为中国的明天.
片子的结束语是:
CHINA ECONOMIC REFORM CONTINUES!
******************************************************************************
红色中国让我看了不爽的几个东西
作者: 军事爱好者 R , Feb 14,2003,23:34
应该说片子拍得不错，确实是美国专业媒体的专业水准，
我是在军坛看的消息，打开看了一个后半截。
先头是个进程打工的，月薪一千，白天干活（捡砖头这样毫无技术的活儿），
晚上在包工头组织下学维修空调。记者照了照他们的生活条件，
这么说吧，房间采暖差了点，只有一个放旅行包的空间，有点小，
不过比我们当年上大学不差，当年我们14平米一间住7口人，一人
一只箱子，全国重点大学之重点，天之骄子什么的，也不过如此。
自己是农民，没啥技术，除了学习空调维修，一个月还能挣千多块钱出头，
你说他苦吗？20来岁，不错了，96年我在北京不打车，基本生活费用
吃住600块就打住，这两年还闹通缩呢，这个学徒工混得不算差。
后面讲一女工，好歹保住工作，可是降薪了，一个月四百多，听着挺少，
女工说着说着哭了，说自己没钱给孩子买好衣服跟别的孩子比，听着我
心酸，可怜天下父母心啊。。。。。
紧跟着给了一镜头，这回改我哭了，小少爷穿的比我出国前还光鲜，好，
就这水平，他妈别哭了，我哭行吗？
还说一个月光电就要12美金，恕我愚昧，一百块钱电在国内，不光是电冰
箱吧？
后面又跟了几个说是下岗的，除了那首钢工人，穿的都不算差，我靠，
我当年没出国的时候虽然是跟中关村混的程序员，土了点，好赖也是北京首都
城里人吧？唉。
那首钢的还这个那个的，当年，80年代末九十年代初，全北京效益最好
奖金最多的企业就算首钢了吧？他是舍不得首钢，从摇篮到坟墓，
他能舍得吗，要把我惯到四十岁，打死我都不离开首钢。
看着这个电视，想想国外民猪们一天到晚说的什么水深火热，
真TMD大JB的扯他奶奶的蛋，按照他们的标准，我当年也算水深火热，靠。
我知道北京确实有过着苦日子的穷人，他们都没拍到。但是那些能说明什么吗？
我不知道我是不是特别没有同情心，或者我这辈子混得一直很差。
想了想，其实每错，我还就是中国第一批下岗的科学家（按照美国标准），
有什么了不得啊？呵。想听悲惨故事，我身边的发生的多了。
我觉得很多人的泪水是那么的廉价。
应该给他们修个废品回收站造点盐来回报社会。
***********************************************************************************
（以下是从“China in the red”网站的Discussion Board转来的。）
Dear FRONTLINE,
As an African American who spends a good deal of time with inner-city youths, many times their only impression of Chinese people are immigrants who have become successful business people owning businesses in their neighborhoods.
This documentary gives valuable insight as to how the lives of poor people are interconnected. The sickly woman in the documentary appears to be locked in a cycle of poverty that her daughter may inherit without ever having the chance to succeed in life due to her lack of education. Inner city children here in the US are often caught in the same cycle of poverty.
Often immigrants view the plight of the underclass in America as somehow being entirely "their own fault". Documentaries like these tell us that governmental policy, changes in a societies social fabric, and geography, all play a part in peoples development everywhere in the world.
Thank you Frontline.
thad garrison
nyc, ny
Dear FRONTLINE,
Thank you so much not only for honestly documenting these everyday Chinese life, their pains and their hopes, but also for letting us in the States to share their experience and hope.
It is vitally important for people in the U. S. to have chance to see the struggle and pursuance of real Chinese people, and I can only hope that Chinese people have a chance like this to see the real U. S.
As a Chinese living in America, I sensed the propaganda and demonization on both sides: the cowardice of big broadcasting company trying or having to falling in line, needless to say the phoniness on Chinese TV. You exemplary work is the banner and way to TV broadcasting.
Thank you again for your excellent work and I look forward to see more work like this!
David Yang
state college, pa
Dear FRONTLINE,
As a Chinese, I am really inpressed by your program. It is detailed and most importantly, you have not tailored the materials to fit some kind of unaccurate ideas about China and Chinese. I can say It is a true story, just like the story I can get from unbiased anthropologists.
What I want to say is that when the word "communism" is used, it deserves an explaination because it has fussy meaning.In China it is not a social development target but mostly a moral tenant for some people now. China never claim itself as "communism" state because it is too far to reach. It only thinks itself as socialism.
Another thing I want to mention is that, maybe you can add a visit to managers and workers in a foreign company in China.
Maybe you can make a serial like this about China. For example, you can concerntrate on the government re-structuring. The education system changing, pop culture. and so on.
I know it is defficult to do all of this, that is why I feel grateful to your program.
tonglu lee
lansing, mi
Dear FRONTLINE,
Thanks for this great documentary "China in Red". I watched this program without any stop, and even forgot to go to bathroom. For the first time, I recorded it with my VCR which has not been used for years.
I came to USA four years, and have never been back to China. So everything about China makes me excited and homesick.
From this program, we can see a real China. Despite a lot of problems, some even fundmental, China is still a booming and prosperous country, with huge progress during 1998-2002. This can be seen from more smiles on the faces of ordinary people and the improvement of their living condition.
For example, when the lady in Chestnut Flower Village was interviewed, she wore an pink and embroided shirt, obviously specifically for this interview, this is much different from the blue male-like suit she had worn in last interview.
Also, the anti-corruption compaign has achieved some progress, the Mayor of Shenyang had been sentenced to death with two years suspension for corruption.....This showes that justice is functioning, if not quite well and always.
To me, the worst thing untolerable is that business man Wu Zheng had gotten the birth certificate of another son throgh bribe, relations and a sort of donation to hospital, even in Beijing where the birth control is strictly conducted. There is a Chinese saying, "with money, the Ghost can push the mills", this time, it is valid again.
Anyway, China is doing very well, and I love this country, my homeland. Best wish for a modern, democratic and rich China in the future.
Thank you again, Frontline and Sue Williams, for this wonderful film.
Zhihong Zhu, PhD
new york, ny
Dear FRONTLINE,
I would like to congratulate the authors of the program with an outstanding piece of documentary work.
I turned on PBS by chance and could not stop watching. I have never been to China - know little about everyday life there, but all the faces, feelings, and thoughts of ordinary and unordinary Chinese people shown by the authors with sincerity, kindness, and painful soul seeking made me one step closer to China and to those 10 people shown in the documentary, struggling in their everyday life for a better future of their children.
Igor Efimov
cleveland, oh
Dear FRONTLINE,
Thank you for providing the best documentary about China!
Ordinary people endure the pain of the social transition while still keep hope (at least for their children). I just hope more Chinese people could also see this documentary, especially young people in big cities.
Could PBS/Frontline grants the right to let people to post video file of this documentary on their web site or file-sharing service (like Kazza )? So it can break into the Great Firewall of China.
west lafayette, in
FRONTLINE's editors respond:
Beginning Saturday, Feb 15, this program,"China in the Red," will be video streamed in full here on this web site (in Windows Media and Real Player). Unfortunately, as the writer mentions, the PBS/FRONTLINE web site is blocked in China so it's virtually impossible for Chinese to view it . To learn more about China and the Internet, see the "Democracy" section of this web site.
Dear FRONTLINE,
As a Chinese American, this film has brought me back the memroires that may have faded away. I was bron in Beijing in the early 60s and raised in HK. Not that I can say I've tasted their bitterness, yet there are many things in your film that I can relate myself.
After watching the film, while my wife was battling with my three years old crying for his bottle at 2am. I wrote the following:
Unknown marks the roads ahead, Ye hath seen China in Red. At corner of two paths cross, finding thy ways, Fate dearest, yet many, lost. Ere the break of day, Ere the break of day.
I am not a poet, nor my English is worth to show off, but that is exactly what I feel about the China that your film has reminded me.
Steven Wu
tempe, az
Dear FRONTLINE,
Beautiful documentary. I especially loved the music and sound design. While the "Birth of the Beijing Music Scene" portion of this website provides a comprehensive overview, [Cui Jian, et al], very little was mentioned of Jason Kao Hwang, credited for original music on the project.
I would be most interested in learning more about him, perhaps to purchase some of his own work. Is there an accompanying soundtrack to the documentary? A link to his website would be helpful as well.
While my comments may seem slightly off topic, I would be happy to contribute to all these musician's own "market economies" by looking into and purchasing their music!
Stephen Reyburn
vancouver, british columbia
Dear FRONTLINE,
The songs that were sung in the first hour were done by a Asian female with a hauntingly-beautiful voice (when showing film about people in the poverty-stricken village), in fact the whole program had great sound and music. My hats off to your music selection and sound staff! Is there a CD with the music from this program?
Also, the information in the program was presented so plainly and honestly, and the films/art/pictures/narrator captured the events so vividly, so a big applause to the creators of this program!
I didn't realize that China had turned its back on its entire population, while many (if not most) were only paid minimum wage (which is a helluva lot less than in the US). Before that, everyone had a job who wanted one, and no one seemed unhappy. I too would be happy if I worked for a company (read: have-ers) who shared the wealth with the employees (read: have-nots) by providing all their needs for free, including much-needed medical attention after they retired or became disabled!
We all know there's only so much a good man or woman can take before they decide that enough is enough, so it's only a matter of time before these millions of people rise up and clean up the mess that the rich have made.
Stepping down off my soapbox...thanks for presenting such a wonderful program! I rarely write my 2-cents about anything, but this was really good!! Please let me know about the CD.
jacksonville, fl
FRONTLINE's editors respond:
Unfortunately, there is no CD of the music from this program. However, beginning Feb.15, the whole program is available in video streaming here on this web site. Thus you can listen to the song to which the writer refers -- "Wild Flower" by Tian Zhen -- Just click on "Chapter 3" in the video section. This music comes at the very beginning of this section.
Dear FRONTLINE,
I enjoyed this documentary film very much. I lived in China and Taiwan during 1981-99, and saw the incredible social, political, and cultural changes that both societies have undergone in the past 20 years. I was going back and forth between China and Taiwan in the early-mid 1980s when Taiwan was still under martial law and it was forbidden for Chinese in Taiwan to visit their families in China; I served as a "bridge", taking letters and gifts to give to families that had been separated for over 40 years!
I continue my travels to China and Taiwan, even though I moved back to Florida a few years ago. I created an educational and entertaining troupe that travelled to the "4 Chinas" (Taiwan, HK, Macau, and mainland) during the Year of the Dragon (2000), and documented this historical event. We also documented a Journey To The East odyssey in 2001 into rural western China, following the same route I had taken 20 years earlier.
The changes have been monumental, and yet there is still beauty in the simplicity of rural China.
Rhett Farber
jacksonville, florida
Dear FRONTLINE,
As I watched the show, several internal levels of watching, listening and learning transformed into very intense levels of "comparison"---comparison based on personal experiences with daily living, work, gov't, loving, children, etc. I drifted from learning about China to questioning What is Culture? & What are the worlds problems?
Attire, meals, physical differences and even architecture are not significant differences, they are simply different. Some people like different, some do not. Some like it until the newness wears off. Underneath such a very thin "skin" of culture, I noted very few differences.
I concluded, and will continue to think about; 1) the basic types of problems they have are the same as ours--it's the general level and distribution of wealth that is different, 2) good people are good people anywhere you go, 3) are other countries' corruption problems simply more sophisticated than theirs? 4) Success by those with short term thinking has a very negative effect on much of the world.
Thank you for this extremely fine report. It affected much differently than I had thought it might.
high point, nc
Dear FRONTLINE,
It's possible to see how problems that China has could be problems for us here in the U.S. in the not so distant future. Many here lack medical insurance thus depriving them of necessary medication yet we lack the will to demand a national medical care system similar to that of most European countries. The Chinese governments, both at local and national levels, suffer from corruption. But is this much different from all of the illegal bookkeeping going on in this country? The real danger is for us to assume that a free market system is superior to a centralized controlled system. It's true only if safeguards exist to protect investors from corporate leaders that cook their books making it appear that their companies are in good shape financially when, in reality, only their own bank accounts are in good shape. We also suffer from corporations that, through creative accounting, pay no federal taxes though their profits are high.
Finally, I see our system of public education being underfunded for lack of a focus on education for the greater good of the country. A result is the wealthy are more and more withdrawing from the public education system and focusing on private education for their children. This will undermine the public school system, the system that gave them the education to succeed in the workplace.
Gayland Hokanson
raleigh, nc
Dear FRONTLINE,
After returning from China a little more than a month ago, I watched this documentary deep interest. I am a graduate student at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and became seriously interested in "exploring China" after traveling to and studying the Long March in China with one of my professors, Anne Thurston. My most recent trip was to Zhejiang Univerisity to was continue my study of the Chinese language and well as do some job hunting. My interest in teaching lead me to the Peace Corps and I recently learned that I was invited to serve in China.
Anne Thurston made an interesting comment regarding the "three represents," something I became more aware of on my most recent trip to China. During the 16th Party Congress, in October 2002, I saw banners and pictures going up everywhere in praise of Presidents Jiang's accomplishments with along with instructions to follow the ideas presented in the Party Congress. I think we as Americans need to understand that China, even as its becomes more open, its is still a nation governed by doctrine and propaganda. I think if you look at Taiwan and even South Korea, both nations that made the transition from authoritarian to pluralist political systems, you see a way in which China may transform itself politically. But the problems in China are of much greater proportion due to its size, population and status as a nuclear power. I think grassroots elections at the village level are a good start to educating people about the how to run a free and open election etc., but as Anne Thurston said the CCP's reluctance to cede power is and continues to be the main reason why a more pluralist political system can't take root.
Thank You
Sanjay Srikantiah
cambridge, oh
Dear FRONTLINE,
I find the democratic changes in China very exciting. It's unfortunate that many Chinese citizens find themselves without adequate pensions, health care, or even a job at all. Many of the people who inhabited USA during its period of early growth had similar problems. This doesn't make the plight of people shown on Frontline less real, but studying our own history helps put China today in a historic perspective.
Mary Richie
forest park, illinois
Dear FRONTLINE,
I just watched the PBS program China in Red. All I wanted to say is it's the best program so far on the extraordinary and historical changes happening in China. Not biased, stereotyped like so many other reports/news you can find in US mass media. I'm very grateful to the whole team as a Chinese who is proud of China's past, presence and her future.
Lei Yang
cincinnati, oh
Dear FRONTLINE,
I just wanted to compliment the makers of this project on capturing the real flavor of China. I spent two years studying in Central China roughly around the same time you were filming, and everything you portrayed was in line with my experiences and observations. With so many stereotypical images of China and the East, it is refreshing to see someone "get it right" for once, and I hope that your film will help to educate Americans on this largely misunderstood nation.
I would also like to compliment you on effectively illustrating the complex economic and life issues facing the Chinese people in this age of unprecedented change and transition. Many of my conversations with Chinese friends revolved around the very issues you have spotlighted - they are not easy issues to fully explain and explore, and you have done an incredible job. Congratulations!
waco, tx更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
作者: CALDO R , Feb 14,2003,22:19
今天早上睡不着觉,4点多就起来.没想到电视里正在播放CHINA IN THE RED!老外拍摄的中国改革的专题片.反映的内容有好有坏,十分真实!
该片选取了当今中国不同社会阶层的几个普通人物,做追踪访问,每年都去实地调查拍摄,我是从1999年看起的,一直到2002年。真的佩服他们的工作态度.现在的中国新闻工作者已经没有象他们这样愿意真正深入生活,拍些真实感人的专题了。老外比我们中国人还要关心和了解中国!
其中有工人(有首钢的，生活比较稳定。有沈阳的,起初在工作,后来下岗,有的自己做生意.有的下岗后不知下落,总之一年不如一年),有农民(湖北山区的因病贫困女儿失学,我现在理解了为什么中国城市里的很多小姐都来自农村,在农村真的没有活路!山东郭庄的?儿子17岁去北京学冰箱维修结果在拆除围墙...被提留等税外支出压的透不过气来.很多农村的年轻人去了城市!)有北京的私人企业家(明显看着生活一年比一年好,甚至生了第二胎)有著名的经济学者(其中一个是吴敬链,另一个年轻的不认识) 有北京的摄影师,有沈阳的出租车司机.总之,涵盖了当今中国各个阶层，各个方面的人物, 真实反映的今日中国人的生活,有的富裕,有的贫困.还有他们的孩子所面临的困难,和变化!
主要的城市有北京和沈阳，甚至还每年采访沈阳前市长慕绥欣(从最初的意气风发到后来的阶下囚!) 感受到了城市的巨大变化!
这部专题片的确可以说是中国这几年来的真实写照!但我相信它不会在国内播放.但真的希望国内的新闻记者们能够深入生活,深入农村，城市,社会的每个角落,多反映那些弱势群体和贫困家庭的生活和困难，让全社会知道我们现在面临的问题，正视并努力解决，为中国的明天.
片子的结束语是:
CHINA ECONOMIC REFORM CONTINUES!
******************************************************************************
红色中国让我看了不爽的几个东西
作者: 军事爱好者 R , Feb 14,2003,23:34
应该说片子拍得不错，确实是美国专业媒体的专业水准，
我是在军坛看的消息，打开看了一个后半截。
先头是个进程打工的，月薪一千，白天干活（捡砖头这样毫无技术的活儿），
晚上在包工头组织下学维修空调。记者照了照他们的生活条件，
这么说吧，房间采暖差了点，只有一个放旅行包的空间，有点小，
不过比我们当年上大学不差，当年我们14平米一间住7口人，一人
一只箱子，全国重点大学之重点，天之骄子什么的，也不过如此。
自己是农民，没啥技术，除了学习空调维修，一个月还能挣千多块钱出头，
你说他苦吗？20来岁，不错了，96年我在北京不打车，基本生活费用
吃住600块就打住，这两年还闹通缩呢，这个学徒工混得不算差。
后面讲一女工，好歹保住工作，可是降薪了，一个月四百多，听着挺少，
女工说着说着哭了，说自己没钱给孩子买好衣服跟别的孩子比，听着我
心酸，可怜天下父母心啊。。。。。
紧跟着给了一镜头，这回改我哭了，小少爷穿的比我出国前还光鲜，好，
就这水平，他妈别哭了，我哭行吗？
还说一个月光电就要12美金，恕我愚昧，一百块钱电在国内，不光是电冰
箱吧？
后面又跟了几个说是下岗的，除了那首钢工人，穿的都不算差，我靠，
我当年没出国的时候虽然是跟中关村混的程序员，土了点，好赖也是北京首都
城里人吧？唉。
那首钢的还这个那个的，当年，80年代末九十年代初，全北京效益最好
奖金最多的企业就算首钢了吧？他是舍不得首钢，从摇篮到坟墓，
他能舍得吗，要把我惯到四十岁，打死我都不离开首钢。
看着这个电视，想想国外民猪们一天到晚说的什么水深火热，
真TMD大JB的扯他奶奶的蛋，按照他们的标准，我当年也算水深火热，靠。
我知道北京确实有过着苦日子的穷人，他们都没拍到。但是那些能说明什么吗？
我不知道我是不是特别没有同情心，或者我这辈子混得一直很差。
想了想，其实每错，我还就是中国第一批下岗的科学家（按照美国标准），
有什么了不得啊？呵。想听悲惨故事，我身边的发生的多了。
我觉得很多人的泪水是那么的廉价。
应该给他们修个废品回收站造点盐来回报社会。
***********************************************************************************
（以下是从“China in the red”网站的Discussion Board转来的。）
Dear FRONTLINE,
As an African American who spends a good deal of time with inner-city youths, many times their only impression of Chinese people are immigrants who have become successful business people owning businesses in their neighborhoods.
This documentary gives valuable insight as to how the lives of poor people are interconnected. The sickly woman in the documentary appears to be locked in a cycle of poverty that her daughter may inherit without ever having the chance to succeed in life due to her lack of education. Inner city children here in the US are often caught in the same cycle of poverty.
Often immigrants view the plight of the underclass in America as somehow being entirely "their own fault". Documentaries like these tell us that governmental policy, changes in a societies social fabric, and geography, all play a part in peoples development everywhere in the world.
Thank you Frontline.
thad garrison
nyc, ny
Dear FRONTLINE,
Thank you so much not only for honestly documenting these everyday Chinese life, their pains and their hopes, but also for letting us in the States to share their experience and hope.
It is vitally important for people in the U. S. to have chance to see the struggle and pursuance of real Chinese people, and I can only hope that Chinese people have a chance like this to see the real U. S.
As a Chinese living in America, I sensed the propaganda and demonization on both sides: the cowardice of big broadcasting company trying or having to falling in line, needless to say the phoniness on Chinese TV. You exemplary work is the banner and way to TV broadcasting.
Thank you again for your excellent work and I look forward to see more work like this!
David Yang
state college, pa
Dear FRONTLINE,
As a Chinese, I am really inpressed by your program. It is detailed and most importantly, you have not tailored the materials to fit some kind of unaccurate ideas about China and Chinese. I can say It is a true story, just like the story I can get from unbiased anthropologists.
What I want to say is that when the word "communism" is used, it deserves an explaination because it has fussy meaning.In China it is not a social development target but mostly a moral tenant for some people now. China never claim itself as "communism" state because it is too far to reach. It only thinks itself as socialism.
Another thing I want to mention is that, maybe you can add a visit to managers and workers in a foreign company in China.
Maybe you can make a serial like this about China. For example, you can concerntrate on the government re-structuring. The education system changing, pop culture. and so on.
I know it is defficult to do all of this, that is why I feel grateful to your program.
tonglu lee
lansing, mi
Dear FRONTLINE,
Thanks for this great documentary "China in Red". I watched this program without any stop, and even forgot to go to bathroom. For the first time, I recorded it with my VCR which has not been used for years.
I came to USA four years, and have never been back to China. So everything about China makes me excited and homesick.
From this program, we can see a real China. Despite a lot of problems, some even fundmental, China is still a booming and prosperous country, with huge progress during 1998-2002. This can be seen from more smiles on the faces of ordinary people and the improvement of their living condition.
For example, when the lady in Chestnut Flower Village was interviewed, she wore an pink and embroided shirt, obviously specifically for this interview, this is much different from the blue male-like suit she had worn in last interview.
Also, the anti-corruption compaign has achieved some progress, the Mayor of Shenyang had been sentenced to death with two years suspension for corruption.....This showes that justice is functioning, if not quite well and always.
To me, the worst thing untolerable is that business man Wu Zheng had gotten the birth certificate of another son throgh bribe, relations and a sort of donation to hospital, even in Beijing where the birth control is strictly conducted. There is a Chinese saying, "with money, the Ghost can push the mills", this time, it is valid again.
Anyway, China is doing very well, and I love this country, my homeland. Best wish for a modern, democratic and rich China in the future.
Thank you again, Frontline and Sue Williams, for this wonderful film.
Zhihong Zhu, PhD
new york, ny
Dear FRONTLINE,
I would like to congratulate the authors of the program with an outstanding piece of documentary work.
I turned on PBS by chance and could not stop watching. I have never been to China - know little about everyday life there, but all the faces, feelings, and thoughts of ordinary and unordinary Chinese people shown by the authors with sincerity, kindness, and painful soul seeking made me one step closer to China and to those 10 people shown in the documentary, struggling in their everyday life for a better future of their children.
Igor Efimov
cleveland, oh
Dear FRONTLINE,
Thank you for providing the best documentary about China!
Ordinary people endure the pain of the social transition while still keep hope (at least for their children). I just hope more Chinese people could also see this documentary, especially young people in big cities.
Could PBS/Frontline grants the right to let people to post video file of this documentary on their web site or file-sharing service (like Kazza )? So it can break into the Great Firewall of China.
west lafayette, in
FRONTLINE's editors respond:
Beginning Saturday, Feb 15, this program,"China in the Red," will be video streamed in full here on this web site (in Windows Media and Real Player). Unfortunately, as the writer mentions, the PBS/FRONTLINE web site is blocked in China so it's virtually impossible for Chinese to view it . To learn more about China and the Internet, see the "Democracy" section of this web site.
Dear FRONTLINE,
As a Chinese American, this film has brought me back the memroires that may have faded away. I was bron in Beijing in the early 60s and raised in HK. Not that I can say I've tasted their bitterness, yet there are many things in your film that I can relate myself.
After watching the film, while my wife was battling with my three years old crying for his bottle at 2am. I wrote the following:
Unknown marks the roads ahead, Ye hath seen China in Red. At corner of two paths cross, finding thy ways, Fate dearest, yet many, lost. Ere the break of day, Ere the break of day.
I am not a poet, nor my English is worth to show off, but that is exactly what I feel about the China that your film has reminded me.
Steven Wu
tempe, az
Dear FRONTLINE,
Beautiful documentary. I especially loved the music and sound design. While the "Birth of the Beijing Music Scene" portion of this website provides a comprehensive overview, [Cui Jian, et al], very little was mentioned of Jason Kao Hwang, credited for original music on the project.
I would be most interested in learning more about him, perhaps to purchase some of his own work. Is there an accompanying soundtrack to the documentary? A link to his website would be helpful as well.
While my comments may seem slightly off topic, I would be happy to contribute to all these musician's own "market economies" by looking into and purchasing their music!
Stephen Reyburn
vancouver, british columbia
Dear FRONTLINE,
The songs that were sung in the first hour were done by a Asian female with a hauntingly-beautiful voice (when showing film about people in the poverty-stricken village), in fact the whole program had great sound and music. My hats off to your music selection and sound staff! Is there a CD with the music from this program?
Also, the information in the program was presented so plainly and honestly, and the films/art/pictures/narrator captured the events so vividly, so a big applause to the creators of this program!
I didn't realize that China had turned its back on its entire population, while many (if not most) were only paid minimum wage (which is a helluva lot less than in the US). Before that, everyone had a job who wanted one, and no one seemed unhappy. I too would be happy if I worked for a company (read: have-ers) who shared the wealth with the employees (read: have-nots) by providing all their needs for free, including much-needed medical attention after they retired or became disabled!
We all know there's only so much a good man or woman can take before they decide that enough is enough, so it's only a matter of time before these millions of people rise up and clean up the mess that the rich have made.
Stepping down off my soapbox...thanks for presenting such a wonderful program! I rarely write my 2-cents about anything, but this was really good!! Please let me know about the CD.
jacksonville, fl
FRONTLINE's editors respond:
Unfortunately, there is no CD of the music from this program. However, beginning Feb.15, the whole program is available in video streaming here on this web site. Thus you can listen to the song to which the writer refers -- "Wild Flower" by Tian Zhen -- Just click on "Chapter 3" in the video section. This music comes at the very beginning of this section.
Dear FRONTLINE,
I enjoyed this documentary film very much. I lived in China and Taiwan during 1981-99, and saw the incredible social, political, and cultural changes that both societies have undergone in the past 20 years. I was going back and forth between China and Taiwan in the early-mid 1980s when Taiwan was still under martial law and it was forbidden for Chinese in Taiwan to visit their families in China; I served as a "bridge", taking letters and gifts to give to families that had been separated for over 40 years!
I continue my travels to China and Taiwan, even though I moved back to Florida a few years ago. I created an educational and entertaining troupe that travelled to the "4 Chinas" (Taiwan, HK, Macau, and mainland) during the Year of the Dragon (2000), and documented this historical event. We also documented a Journey To The East odyssey in 2001 into rural western China, following the same route I had taken 20 years earlier.
The changes have been monumental, and yet there is still beauty in the simplicity of rural China.
Rhett Farber
jacksonville, florida
Dear FRONTLINE,
As I watched the show, several internal levels of watching, listening and learning transformed into very intense levels of "comparison"---comparison based on personal experiences with daily living, work, gov't, loving, children, etc. I drifted from learning about China to questioning What is Culture? & What are the worlds problems?
Attire, meals, physical differences and even architecture are not significant differences, they are simply different. Some people like different, some do not. Some like it until the newness wears off. Underneath such a very thin "skin" of culture, I noted very few differences.
I concluded, and will continue to think about; 1) the basic types of problems they have are the same as ours--it's the general level and distribution of wealth that is different, 2) good people are good people anywhere you go, 3) are other countries' corruption problems simply more sophisticated than theirs? 4) Success by those with short term thinking has a very negative effect on much of the world.
Thank you for this extremely fine report. It affected much differently than I had thought it might.
high point, nc
Dear FRONTLINE,
It's possible to see how problems that China has could be problems for us here in the U.S. in the not so distant future. Many here lack medical insurance thus depriving them of necessary medication yet we lack the will to demand a national medical care system similar to that of most European countries. The Chinese governments, both at local and national levels, suffer from corruption. But is this much different from all of the illegal bookkeeping going on in this country? The real danger is for us to assume that a free market system is superior to a centralized controlled system. It's true only if safeguards exist to protect investors from corporate leaders that cook their books making it appear that their companies are in good shape financially when, in reality, only their own bank accounts are in good shape. We also suffer from corporations that, through creative accounting, pay no federal taxes though their profits are high.
Finally, I see our system of public education being underfunded for lack of a focus on education for the greater good of the country. A result is the wealthy are more and more withdrawing from the public education system and focusing on private education for their children. This will undermine the public school system, the system that gave them the education to succeed in the workplace.
Gayland Hokanson
raleigh, nc
Dear FRONTLINE,
After returning from China a little more than a month ago, I watched this documentary deep interest. I am a graduate student at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and became seriously interested in "exploring China" after traveling to and studying the Long March in China with one of my professors, Anne Thurston. My most recent trip was to Zhejiang Univerisity to was continue my study of the Chinese language and well as do some job hunting. My interest in teaching lead me to the Peace Corps and I recently learned that I was invited to serve in China.
Anne Thurston made an interesting comment regarding the "three represents," something I became more aware of on my most recent trip to China. During the 16th Party Congress, in October 2002, I saw banners and pictures going up everywhere in praise of Presidents Jiang's accomplishments with along with instructions to follow the ideas presented in the Party Congress. I think we as Americans need to understand that China, even as its becomes more open, its is still a nation governed by doctrine and propaganda. I think if you look at Taiwan and even South Korea, both nations that made the transition from authoritarian to pluralist political systems, you see a way in which China may transform itself politically. But the problems in China are of much greater proportion due to its size, population and status as a nuclear power. I think grassroots elections at the village level are a good start to educating people about the how to run a free and open election etc., but as Anne Thurston said the CCP's reluctance to cede power is and continues to be the main reason why a more pluralist political system can't take root.
Thank You
Sanjay Srikantiah
cambridge, oh
Dear FRONTLINE,
I find the democratic changes in China very exciting. It's unfortunate that many Chinese citizens find themselves without adequate pensions, health care, or even a job at all. Many of the people who inhabited USA during its period of early growth had similar problems. This doesn't make the plight of people shown on Frontline less real, but studying our own history helps put China today in a historic perspective.
Mary Richie
forest park, illinois
Dear FRONTLINE,
I just watched the PBS program China in Red. All I wanted to say is it's the best program so far on the extraordinary and historical changes happening in China. Not biased, stereotyped like so many other reports/news you can find in US mass media. I'm very grateful to the whole team as a Chinese who is proud of China's past, presence and her future.
Lei Yang
cincinnati, oh
Dear FRONTLINE,
I just wanted to compliment the makers of this project on capturing the real flavor of China. I spent two years studying in Central China roughly around the same time you were filming, and everything you portrayed was in line with my experiences and observations. With so many stereotypical images of China and the East, it is refreshing to see someone "get it right" for once, and I hope that your film will help to educate Americans on this largely misunderstood nation.
I would also like to compliment you on effectively illustrating the complex economic and life issues facing the Chinese people in this age of unprecedented change and transition. Many of my conversations with Chinese friends revolved around the very issues you have spotlighted - they are not easy issues to fully explain and explore, and you have done an incredible job. Congratulations!
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