Movies About Mao Zedong

Updated May 1, 2024

For Movies About Mao Zedong, there are so many directors reporting on this idea. Here are 25 of our favorites.

A Brighter Summer Day (1991)

★★★★

3.3 out of 4 stars

From Edward Yang, starring Chang Chen, Lisa Yang, Kuo-Chu Chang, Elaine Jin
Rated Not Rated

A Brighter Summer Day is an epic Taiwanese drama film that tells the story of a 14-year-old boy, Xiao Si'r, growing up in the early 1960s. He is caught up in the struggles between two rival gangs, one made up of Taiwanese teenagers and the other of Mainlanders. As the film progresses, Xiao Si'r is forced to confront his own identity and values as he is faced with difficult choices that could have dangerous consequences. The film also examines the political issues and cultural tensions of the era, as well as the lives and struggles of a group of working-class Taiwanese youth. With a runtime of close to four hours, A Brighter Summer Day is an intimate and sprawling exploration of a turning point in Taiwan's history.

Farewell My Concubine (1993)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Kaige Chen, starring Leslie Cheung, Fengyi Zhang, Gong Li, You Ge
Rated R

Farewell My Concubine is a 1993 Chinese drama film directed by Kaige Chen. It follows the story of two friends, Cheng Dieyi and Duan Xiaolou, who were trained to be Peking Opera performers from a young age. Dieyi is devoted to Xiaolou, but Xiaolou falls in love with a woman, Juxian, and abandons Dieyi. Dieyi's subsequent descent into madness reflects the turmoil of Chinese society in the early 20th century. The film depicts the events that occurred during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War, and the destruction of cultural icons such as the Peking Opera. As the story comes to a close, Xiaolou and Juxian are reunited, but Dieyi decides to remain on stage, singing a farewell to his beloved concubine.

Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Ang Lee, starring Sihung Lung, Kuei-Mei Yang, Yu-Wen Wang, Chien-Lien Wu
Rated Not Rated

Eat Drink Man Woman is a 1994 Taiwanese romantic comedy-drama film directed by Ang Lee and starring Sihung Lung, Yu-wen Wang, Chien-lien Wu, and Kuei-mei Yang. The film follows the life of a retired Taiwanese chef, his three daughters, and his struggles to make peace with them. The daughters are all grown up and each have their own lives, and the film focuses on their relationships both with each other, and with their father. As their father continues to cook elaborate meals every Sunday, he slowly realizes that his daughters are all in need of his guidance, though they are reluctant to accept it. Through the film, the audience learns more about the relationship between the father and his daughters, as well as the themes of love and family. Ultimately, the characters all realize the importance of family and the power of food to bring people together.

Dying to Survive (2018)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Muye Wen, starring Zheng Xu, Yiwei Zhou, Chuan-jun Wang, Zhuo Tan
Rated Not Rated

Dying to Survive is a Chinese comedy-drama film directed by Muye Wen. The movie tells the true story of Chinese leukemia patient, Lu Yong, and his quest to find a cheap but effective cancer drug, imatinib mesylate, from India. The film details the difficulties he encounters on his journey, and his ultimate success in sourcing the medicine for himself and a group of fellow sufferers. It also delves into the issue of unaffordable medical costs in China, and the lengths some have to go to in order to receive necessary treatments. In the end, Lu Yong helps create awareness of his plight, and the film ultimately serves as a call to action to the Chinese government to make healthcare more affordable and accessible.

The Road Home (1999)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Yimou Zhang, starring Ziyi Zhang, Honglei Sun, Hao Zheng, Yulian Zhao
Rated G

The Road Home is a Chinese romance drama directed by Yimou Zhang in 1999. It tells the story of Luo Yusheng, a young man from the city who returns to his rural hometown in China to attend his father's funeral. Upon arrival, he discovers that his father had made a promise to his late wife that he would be buried at the family home, and so it is up to Yusheng to fulfill his father's wish and oversee the traditional burial process. Along the way, Yusheng meets his father's former sweetheart and begins to understand the deep love they shared and why his father kept this promise. Through flashbacks and conversations with his father’s former lover, Yusheng is reminded of the strong bonds of love and tradition that tie generations together. In the end, Yusheng not only fulfills his father’s wish but also finds love and a new appreciation for the past.

Happy Together (1997)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Kar-Wai Wong, starring Leslie Cheung, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Chang Chen, Gregory Dayton
Rated Not Rated

"Happy Together" is a 1997 Hong Kong romantic drama directed by Kar-Wai Wong and starring Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung. The film follows a turbulent and passionate love story between two gay men, Ho Po-Wing (Leslie Cheung) and Lai Yiu-Fai (Tony Leung). The two men travel to Argentina in an attempt to rekindle their relationship, but find that the tumultuous journey only makes their issues more complicated. Throughout the film, we witness their love-hate relationship as they both struggle to make themselves happy. Along the way, Ho Po-Wing meets and falls in love with a mysterious Argentinean woman, while Yiu-Fai finds solace in the form of a former lover. In the end, both men must come to terms with their own choices and the consequences that come with them.

City of Life and Death (2009)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Chuan Lu, starring Ye Liu, Wei Fan, Hideo Nakaizumi, Yuanyuan Gao
Rated R

City of Life and Death is a 2009 Chinese historical drama film directed by Lu Chuan. Set in 1937, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the film follows the 1937 Nanking Massacre, when the Japanese Imperial Army occupied and committed multiple war crimes against the residents of Nanjing. The story follows three main characters: a Chinese soldier, a Japanese soldier and a widow who survived the massacre. It portrays the cruelty and brutality of the war, as well as the courage of the survivors. The film conveys the devastating impact of war in a realistic and somber manner and is considered one of the most important films to come out of China.

Not One Less (1999)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Yimou Zhang, starring Minzhi Wei, Huike Zhang, Zhenda Tian, Enman Gao
Rated G

Not One Less (1999) is a Chinese drama film directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Wei Minzhi. The film follows the story of a 13-year-old girl named Wei Minzhi who is hired as a substitute teacher in a remote village school in the Gansu province of China. She must fill in for a teacher who has gone to the city to look for work. Wei is tasked with keeping the students in line and making sure that none of them drop out. However, when one of the students runs away in search of work, Wei pursues him and learns the importance of keeping students in school even in the face of poverty. In the end, Wei succeeds in her mission and all of the students remain in school. The film is a powerful story of the importance of education, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

The Farewell (2019)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Lulu Wang, starring Shuzhen Zhao, Awkwafina, X Mayo, Hong Lu
Rated PG

The Farewell is a 2019 comedy-drama film directed by Lulu Wang. It follows a Chinese-American family who, upon learning their beloved grandmother has only a short time left to live, decide not to tell her about her terminal diagnosis and instead plan a family gathering under the guise of a quick wedding in China. The story is told through the perspective of the family's American-born daughter and only child, Billi, who is torn between her filial duty and her desire to be truthful with her grandmother. Billi's struggle to come to terms with the family's decision to keep the truth from her grandmother is further complicated by the contrast between Chinese and American cultural attitudes towards death and grief. Despite the somber and emotional subject matter, the film is filled with moments of joy, humor, and love as the family comes together to support and honor their grandmother.

Lust, Caution (2007)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Ang Lee, starring Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Tang Wei, Joan Chen, Leehom Wang
Rated NC-17

Lust, Caution is a 2007 Chinese-language historical thriller directed by Ang Lee. The film follows a group of university students in 1942 Shanghai who plot to assassinate a powerful Japanese collaborator who is working with the invading Japanese army. Wang Jiazhi, played by Tang Wei, is recruited by a student revolutionary, Kuang Yumin, to seduce the collaborator, Mr. Yee, played by Tony Leung, as part of their assassination plan. As Jiazhi spends more time with Yee, her feelings become complicated and her loyalty to the mission is tested. The film is set against the backdrop of World War II-era Shanghai, and explores themes of love, morality, and betrayal.