Mao's China: The Red Terror | Multilingual documentary

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In 1966, Mao Zedong launched what he called the “Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution,” plunging China into a turbulent decade marked by political chaos and widespread fear.

Driven by radical ideology, young people formed the “Red Guards” and enforced a strict and often violent campaign against perceived enemies of the state. Families were torn apart as children turned on parents, neighbors accused one another, and public violence became common.

Mao, once a rural peasant who rose to lead the Chinese Communist Party, had brought unity to China after years of civil war and declared the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949. Under his rule, China grew into a key player in the Cold War. His meeting with U.S. President Richard Nixon marked a shift in global dynamics. Yet behind this rise lay immense suffering — with millions affected by the harsh policies and cultural destruction of the era. The legacy of this upheaval continues to shape China’s society and collective memory today.

Director: Michael Kloft