The Great Earthquake
大地震
Synopsis
On Tomb Sweeping Day, in 1988, a film crew set out for the monument of the Tangshan earthquake to shoot a memorial ceremony for the victims. This marked the beginning of shooting for a documentary called "The Great Earthquake." The crew continued to shoot through the rest of 1988, even staging a large-scale rock 'n' roll concert and performance art event on the Great Wall, and into 1989, including footage shot at the famous 1989 Avant-Garde Art Exhibition, where one artist fired two gun shots at her exhibit. More footage was shot during the Tiananmen protests, up until the events of June 4th shut down production for good. Shortly before, a two-hour "rough cut" was assembled by main director Wen Pulin and Assistant Director Hao Zhiqiang, which screened only once (and is preserved at University libraries in the U.S.). The footage has been recycled in some of Wen's later films, notably "China Action," but "The Great Earthquake" itself was never finished.
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Wen Pulin
- Original Title
- 大地震
- Spoken Languages
- Mandarin
- Runtime
- Unknown
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Wen Pulin
Department Leadership Roster
Wen Pulin
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Great Earthquake.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Great Earthquake.
1989
1989
More Like The Great Earthquake
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Great Earthquake
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Great Earthquake about?
On Tomb Sweeping Day, in 1988, a film crew set out for the monument of the Tangshan earthquake to shoot a memorial ceremony for the victims. This marked the beginning of shooting for a documentary called "The Great Earthquake." The crew continued to shoot through the rest of 1988, even staging a large-scale rock 'n' roll concert and performance art event on the Great Wall, and into 1989, including footage shot at the famous 1989 Avant-Garde Art Exhibition, where one artist fired two gun shots at her exhibit. More footage was shot during the Tiananmen protests, up until the events of June 4th shut down production for good. Shortly before, a two-hour "rough cut" was assembled by main director Wen Pulin and Assistant Director Hao Zhiqiang, which screened only once (and is preserved at University libraries in the U.S.). The footage has been recycled in some of Wen's later films, notably "China Action," but "The Great Earthquake" itself was never finished.
Who directed The Great Earthquake?
The Great Earthquake was directed by Wen Pulin.
Who stars in The Great Earthquake?
The principal cast of The Great Earthquake includes Not specified.
When was The Great Earthquake released and how long is it?
The Great Earthquake was released in 1989 with a total runtime of Unknown.