Films & Video

Waking the Green Tiger

Waking the Green Tiger Synopses

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Vancouver International Film Festival  Short summary:  60 words

Waking the Green Tiger (Canada, 78 min.)

By declaring that nature must be conquered in the name of progress, Chairman Mao ushered in an era ofenvironmental degradation for China. Now, passionate activists strive to preserve their natural wonders, educate their compatriots and encourage public debate. Gary Marcuse’s stirring documentary celebrates the brave souls at the forefront of China’s new revolution.

 


 Vancouver International Film Festival Catalogue entry : 200 words

Waking the Green Tiger (Canada, 2011, 78 mins, HDCAM-SR)

In English and Chinese with English subtitles

World Premiere

Directed By: Gary Marcuse

EXEC PROD: Betsy Carson
PROD: Betsy Carson, Gary Marcuse
SCR: Gary Marcuse
CAM: Rolf Cutts
MUS: Henry Heillig, Doug Wilde

By declaring that nature must be conquered in the name of progress, Chairman Mao ushered in an era of environmental degradation for China. As glimpsed in archival footage (some of it seen outside China for the first time), citizens were mobilized to raze forests and slaughter animals. These rash actions laid waste to ecosystems and triggered a famine that killed tens-of-millions. Now, a new generation of environmentalists composed of activists, journalists, filmmakers and former politicians strives to preserve their natural wonders, educate their compatriots and encourage public debate. Gary Marcuse's stirring documentary celebrates the leaders of China's new revolution as they take aim at a hydroelectric dam project.

A product of the VIFF Film & TV Forum's Storyville Vancouver program, this call-to-arms' refreshing air of optimism distinguishes it from the majority of environmental documentaries. While never once diminishing the threats posed by massive dams, it focuses on the sense of purpose and deep-seated passion such contentious undertakings instill in their opponents. As one rural villager proclaims, "When our homes are about to be destroyed, we have nothing to fear." Newly emboldened, these once-marginalized citizens become part of a "green hurricane" that's sweeping through China. We'd all do well to be swept up in their thrall.


Production summary : 118 WORDS
Seen through the eyes of activists, farmers, and journalists Waking the Green Tiger follows an extraordinary campaign to stop a huge dam project on the upper Yangtze river in southwestern China. Featuring astonishing archival footage never seen outside China, and interviews with a government insider and witnesses, the documentary also examines Chairman Mao’s campaigns to conquer nature in the name of progress


An environmental movement takes root when a new environmental law is passed and for the first time in China’s history, ordinary citizens have the democratic right to speak out and take part in government decisions. Activists test their freedom to challenge a dam. The movement they trigger could ransform China.



Production summary: 250 WORDS
Seen through the eyes of activists, farmers, and journalists, Waking the Green Tiger follows an extraordinary grassroots campaign which successfully stopped a huge dam project on the upper Yangtze river in southwestern China.


Featuring astonishing archival footage never seen outside China, the documentary also tells the story of Chairman Mao’s determination to conquer nature in the name of progress. Millions of people were mobilized in campaigns that reshaped China’s landscape, destroyed lakes, forests and grasslands, unleashed dust storms, and stifled science. For fifty years the idea was instilled in succeeding generations that nature must serve the people. Critics of this approach were silenced for years.


An environmental movement arises when a new law is passed which, for the first time in China’s history, gives ordinary citizens the democratic right to speak out and take part in government decisions. The activists set out to test their freedom and save a river.


The film includes footage shot by one of China’s first environmental filmmakers, Shi Lihong, of Wild China Films. Her revealing film about the fate of a farming community that was moved to make way for a dam was used by farmers to organize resistance to another massive dam project that would have displaced 100,000 people. Other participants in the film include China’s former director of Environmental Protection, Qu Geping, who gives us a candid, no-holds-barred look at the state of the environment in China, as well as leading activists Ma Jun, Yu Xiaogang and Liu Jianqiang.  Judith Shapiro, author of Mao's War Against Nature was a consultant on the project.

 

 


Production summary :400 words

 The rise of a Green Movement in China   

Waking the Green Tiger is a feature documentary from Face to Face Media, the award winning team that created Nuclear Dynamite, the story of the environmental movement in America.

Seen through the eyes of activists, farmers, and journalists Waking the Green Tiger follows an extraordinary, unprecedented and successful campaign to stop a huge dam project on the Upper Yangtze river in the high mountains of southwestern China.

Ending Mao’s War Against Nature

Featuring astonishing archival footage never seen outside China, and interviews with a government insider and witnesses, the documentary also tells the story of Chairman Mao’s determination to conquer nature in the name of progress. Millions of people were mobilized in campaigns that reshaped China’s landscape, destroyed lakes, marshes, forests and grasslands, unleashed dust storms, and stifled science. For fifty years the idea was instilled in succeeding generations that nature must serve the people.  Critics of this approach were silenced for years.

Awakening a Grass Roots Movement

A new environmental movement, joining activists and farmers and supported by government insiders finally takes root when a new environmental law is passed. For the first time in China’s history, ordinary citizens have the democratic right to speak out and take part in government decisions.   The activists set out to test their freedom and save a river.  The movement they trigger has the potential to transform China.

The film includes footage shot over a six year period by one of China’s first environmental filmmakers, Shi Lihong, of Wild China Film. She and her husband Xi Zhinong are famous throughout China for an early environmental film about China’s endangered golden monkeys.  Shi Lihong then shot and directed a revealing film about the fate of a farming community that was moved to make way for a dam.  As we in show in Waking the Green Tiger, her documentary was used by farmers to organize resistance to a massive dam project  at Tiger Leaping Gorge that would force 100,000 people to move . 

We also had unprecedented access to China’s former director of Environmental Protection, Qu Geping.  Honored with many international prizes including the Blue Planet award, Qu  has been China’s “father of environmental protection” for more than 40 years.  He gives us a candid, no-holds-barred look at the state of the environment in China, from Mao until now.  Judith Shapiro, author of Mao's War Against Nature was a consultant on the project.