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Documentary: The 1989, Tiananmen Massacre
2008-02-16
Dr. R. Joseph, the producer and director of the highly acclaimed documentary, The Rape of Nanking, is pleased to announce that he has completed the first phase of his new full length documentary film on the 1989 Student Democracy Movement in Beijing, China, titled: "The Tiananmen Massacre."Dr. R. Joseph, the producer and director of the highly acclaimed documentary, The Rape of Nanking, is pleased to announce that he has completed the first phase of his new full length documentary film on the 1989 Student Democracy Movement in Beijing, China, titled: "The Tiananmen Massacre." Those who have seen it describe the film as powerful, and that it makes them feel proud of the Chinese people. Now he is moving on to the next phase of completing the film, and is seeking to contact and to conduct on-camera interviews of the student leaders and many of those who participated in the 1989 student democracy movement, including Wang Dan, Han Dongfang, Hou DeJian, Wuer Kaixi, Li Lu, et al., Dr. Joseph can be contacted by email at: RhawnJoseph@Gmail.com . This film is different from all other documentaries on this subject, in that Dr. Joseph traces the beginning and causes of the Student Democracy Movement and examines the political intrigue and infighting between the right wing conservatives and the progressive reformers within the communist government. Basing his analysis on confidential government documents smuggled out of China, Dr. Joseph also explores and discusses how president Yang Shangkun and senior leader Deng Xiaoping were afraid of another "cultural revolution." During the cultural revolution Deng Xiaoping had twice been stripped of power, and Yang Shangkun had been paraded through the streets of Beijing. Both men were fearful of again losing power and the wealth they and their families had accumulated and decided to declare war against unarmed Chinese civilians. However, the Chinese people behaved heroically and with courage, and they fought back. Dr. Joseph's film includes lengthy street battles between the citizens of Beijing and the PLA, with tanks running over people, people attacking tanks, and lots and lots of horrifying images of death. Those who have seen the rough draft describe the film as extremely powerful and praise it for presenting the Chinese people as incredibly brave, courageous, noble, and heroic. Dr. Joseph's last full length film, "The Rape of Nanking" has been viewed an estimated 10 million times (4 million in the US), and for much of 2007 was ranked in the Top 10 "Most Discussed Films of All Time" (Youtube.) Hundreds of articles were written praising this film in China (e.g. People's Daily, Beijing Youth Daily, China Youth Daily, etc.), and CCTV called it "the best... most influential film ever made on this tragedy." According to Dr. Joseph: "In my opinion, the Rape of Nanking is a tragic story of barbarity and shameful, powerless humiliation and those who watch the film typically feel shock and cry tears or rage." "By contrast, the 1989 Student Democracy Movement and the Tiananmen Massacre, is a story of courage, heroism, intrigue, drama, and tragedy. Chinese who have seen the rough draft also feel a mix of emotions, including shock and anger, but also pride. It is a story of how the Chinese people behaved with incredible courage and heroism. As with his highly acclaimed documentary "The Rape of Nanking," Dr. Joseph's newest film, "The Tiananmen Massacre" consists of archival photos and film-footage coupled with mood-appropriate Chinese music and background sounds. The 20th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre is June 4, 2009. Once Dr. Joseph films and includes the observations and memories of those who took part in the 1989 demonstrations, Dr. Joseph's intentions are to show this documentary at every film-festival between now and then, and to obtain world-wide television distribution, so that the Chinese people and the whole world can learn how in 1989, a few men controlling the government of China declared war on its own citizens, the Chinese people, and then murdered and maimed thousands of innocent people whose only crime was a desire for freedom and democracy. Dr. Joseph can be contacted at: RhawnJoseph@Gmail.com
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