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Fearless from Red China

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Synopsis

Made with true passion and love, Huai Bao's Fearless from Red China is as far from pre-packaged Hollywood entertainment as you can get. The filmmaker has taken the story of Wu Wei and infused it with tremendous personal emotion - all without a budget or professional equipment. For all those whose hearts are open, join us on a most unusual journey. In the years before the Cultural Revolution, a boy named Wu Wei was born into an artistic family in Beijing and was trained to be a ballet dancer until he was sent to the army in an isolated area for re-education. Due to his family background, the future closed all its doors to him despite his remarkable talent in dancing. In those strict, non-artistic, populist times, the easiest way to escape was to marry a western woman, and Wu Wei struggled to arrange this with no success. Eventually, there was success and he was sent to study in Paris. It was there that Wu Wei flourished and found gay love. Join us on this most remarkable journey and film.

In the years before the Cultural Revolution, a boy named Wu Wei is born in an artistic family in Beijing and is trained to be a ballet dancer until he is sent to the army in an isolated area for re-education. Due to his family background, the future closes all its doors to him, despite his remarkable talent in dancing. In the 1980s, many people in Mainland China try every means to go abroad, even though it is almost impossible to obtain a passport. Wu Wei struggles to hook up with a Western woman for marriage but to no avail. Eventually, His mother marries three times in exchange for sending him to study in Paris, France. While in Paris, Wu Wei doesn't become a big shot fashion designer as he has always aspired to, but flourishes as a male escort. His legendary life in Paris is marked by a number of unusual events that either captivate his heart or devastate his spirit.

His return to a new and modern Beijing in the late 1990s does not bring him success that he has wanted, either. Years later, he ends up in the mysterious Tibet seeking his rebirth. He realizes that every big step he makes in life is simply motivated by his secret love for two people beyond his reach.

The movie was entirely shot on locations in China. Wu Wei is played by the real person, now aged 54, whose life story the movie is based on.

The majority of the major cast are Canadians and Americans, while all of the actors are amateurs except Elyse Ribbons who plays Catherine in the movie.

The story begins with Wu Wei boarding the train traveling to Tibet from Xining. While in the compartment he bumps into Jean Gaudette, one of his ex-clients when he was a rent boy in Paris, Tibet. Inspired by a Taoist master in Beijing, Wu Wei goes through a nirvana in Tibet together with Jean.

The producer, writer and director of the movie is a recent graduate of the Vancouver Film School in Canada. He made this movie with his own savings.

Read filmmaker Huai Bao's interview with CNN on China's sexual revolution.

Review

Product Format Information

DVD-R : $12.99

Availability: In stock and ready to ship
Region Code: 1
UPC: 807839005547
Catalog #: DR3246212

Studio : Grandvision Communications

Languages: English (Primary)
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen
Features:
Some Chinese with subtitles

Customer Reviews

thanks!

amazing! wrote on 09/23/2011:

This is perhaps the best indie queer film I've ever seen! A moving story, great sense of humor, though acting is not always convincing. But I enjoyed it! thanks!

A movie for all

anonymous wrote on 08/24/2011:

Watched this movie with my husband and daughter with much interest. I think this is a movie for all kinds of people, men, women, straight, gay, old, young...there is something universal in the story, about rebellion, self destruction, awakening, transformation and liberation. I understand that this was shot on a tiny budget but given the budget it is really well done if you count how many characters, locations and scenes it has! Congratulations!

Laughing...

anonymous wrote on 08/10/2011:

I can't help laughing out loud when I hear Wu Wei saying to the rent boy on the phone at the end of the movie "Your grandfather has died many times. Sorry, I can't help you this time." It is so true! There are many young handsome buff boys who believe they can earn big money with their looks and charm and so make lots of stories to hustle, like "my grandma is sick and I need money to pay her medical bills" or "my grandpa just passed away and I need money for his funeral."

In the end of the movie, Wu Wei doesn't believe that rent boy any more. "Your grandfather has died many times." What other original stories can he make? LOL. Funny.

I would recommend this movie to you!

East Meets West

Amos Lassen wrote on 08/05/2011:

We do not often think of China when we think of gay movies but “Fearless in Red China” might just change that. The film spans fifty years of China as it meets the Western world. We see how Communist China changed and we see it through the eyes of a Chinese gay male and the people around him. The two major issues here are humanity and morality as China moves to globalization, race, gender, religion and sexuality and the marginalized Chinese who are still not a part of their country’s society.
Huai Bao has directed this film with love and passion and there in not a thing “Hollywoodish” about it. Using the character of Wu Wei, we are privy to emotion and we go on a personal journey. Before the Cultural Revolution, Wu Wei was born to a family with an artistic bent in Beijing. Until he went into the army e was trained as a ballet dancer but in the army he went through what is known as re-education and his future seemed bleak as this was a time when artistry was regarded with great suspicion. One way out would have been to marry a Western woman and Wu Wei tried very hard to arrange this but to no avail. Ultimately he was sent to Paris to study and he found himself there and found gay love as well.
He returned to Beijing in the late 1990’s but success eluded him and he later found his way to Tibet hoping to find some kind of rebirth there. He remained in love with two people to whom he had no access. Interestingly enough, the actor who plays Wu Wei is the character about whom the story is written At the beginning of the movie we see him as he boards a train for Tibet and as he traveled he net Jean Gaudette, a former client from his days in Paris as a male prostitute. Together the two find and experience Nirvana in Tibet.
This is quite an illuminating film that is beautiful to watch and that was made for very little money. The cast save one person, is made up of amateurs and when all is taken together is quite an experience.
The story catches the viewer at the beginning, because Wu Wei is a non-conventional character. His life experience is so unique, but at the same time it is also a reflection of the era during which China underwent drastic changes. There is a lot of adventure here as well and it ranges from mental and physical to spiritual adventure. Here is the story of a Chinese dancer that meets the world and the struggles he has until he finds peace and love in Tibet.

Sexy!

anonymous wrote on 07/31/2011:

This really is the sexiest movie I've ever seen! Simply hot love making scenes and a moving love story! Can't expect more!

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