The Blue Kite Film Analysis

A rather depressing movie, “The Blue Kite” recalls the story of a small, poor family in China, in the 50’s and 60’s, during the hundred flowers movement, and the ‘cultural revolution’. We follow the family through various phases of their lives, starting from the 50’s, at the start of the communist regime. One could say the initially positive outlook in the Chinese community is visible in all the characters living in the compound. However, we see this positivity turn to discontent and a feeling of helplessness as the movie progresses through its chapters. This is very visible when in the beginning the neighborhood party representatives go and visit Ms. Lan’s house, asking if she has contributed to the state by giving assets. A brief lie draws a very happy response from the neighborhood party, accompanied by hearty smiles and trust. This original sense of community and kind of euphoria comes into stark contrast with the same people later on confiscating food from Ms. Lan. This very simple on the surface act is one of many that show how the initial promise of a good life under communism is in fact a dream that is shot down. Mao’s Zedong clearly said in his 1949 speech, that “reactionaries should be given land, work, and a chance to remold themselves through labor into new people” (Mao, 2). This would sound like …show more content…
The scene we watched in the movie is essentially the impersonation of this realization by Mao; an act that he deemed necessary to carry out. The basis on which they carry it out though, is to a certain exent completely flawed; we see no real trial, or any proof that there is a counter revolutionary sentiment within the stepfather, or any of the family members arrested, both in this scene, and