Tiananmen
天安门
“We respect life, just as we respect history”
Synopsis
A CCTV-commissioned, 8-part series shot between 1988 and 1990, but barred from being released after the events of June 4th. A production of the Structure, Wave, Youth, Cinema (SWYC) Experimental Group, an informal collective of young filmmakers founded in the summer of 1989 and devoted to the production of documentaries, that includes: this series' two directors, Shi Jian and Chen Jue, as well as Beijing TV's Wang Zijun, and this series' screenwriter, Kuang Yang (under the name Guang Yi). Tiananmen documents various aspects of life surrounding the Square: survivors of the imperial era, street performers, fledgling entrepreneurs, fashion school students, foreigners marrying Chinese nationals, and so forth. Each episode starts with a close-up of a giant portrait of Mao hung over the Square, and proceeds as a hybrid of archival footage, direct cinema, and cinema verité, weaving a permanent dialectic between the present and the past, daily life and history.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Shi Jian, Chen Jue
- Screenplay & Story
- Kuang Yang
- Original Score
- Meng Weidong
- Original Title
- 天安门
- Spoken Languages
- Mandarin
- Runtime
- 7h 0m
- Production Studios
- SWYC
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Shi Jian, Chen Jue
Kuang Yang
Meng Weidong
Chen Jue, Shi Jian
Department Leadership Roster
Shi Jian
Director
Chen Jue
Director
Chen Jue
Editor
Shi Jian
Editor
Kuang Yang
Writer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Tiananmen.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tiananmen
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Tiananmen about?
A CCTV-commissioned, 8-part series shot between 1988 and 1990, but barred from being released after the events of June 4th. A production of the Structure, Wave, Youth, Cinema (SWYC) Experimental Group, an informal collective of young filmmakers founded in the summer of 1989 and devoted to the production of documentaries, that includes: this series' two directors, Shi Jian and Chen Jue, as well as Beijing TV's Wang Zijun, and this series' screenwriter, Kuang Yang (under the name Guang Yi). Tiananmen documents various aspects of life surrounding the Square: survivors of the imperial era, street performers, fledgling entrepreneurs, fashion school students, foreigners marrying Chinese nationals, and so forth. Each episode starts with a close-up of a giant portrait of Mao hung over the Square, and proceeds as a hybrid of archival footage, direct cinema, and cinema verité, weaving a permanent dialectic between the present and the past, daily life and history.
Who directed Tiananmen?
Tiananmen was directed by Shi Jian, Chen Jue.
Who stars in Tiananmen?
The principal cast of Tiananmen includes Han Yang, Shi Jian, Hu Jian.
When was Tiananmen released and how long is it?
Tiananmen was released in 1991 with a total runtime of 7h 0m.
Who composed the musical score for Tiananmen?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Tiananmen was composed by Meng Weidong.