Deng's 1979 US visit captured in film

On Feb 2, 1979, Deng Xiaoping, then China's vice-premier, interacts with Americans after watching a rodeo near Houston. Photo/Xinhua

Deng Xiaoping's famous visit to the US in 1979 is captured in a new documentary arriving in theaters next year.

For the first time, footage of an attempted assassination of China's legendary late leader Deng Xiaoping by a Ku Klux Klan member while he was visiting the United States in 1979 will be shown in a new documentary scheduled to be released around the country next spring.

Production of the film, Mr. Deng Goes to Washington, wrapped up last week.

The film records the nine days beginning on Jan 29, 1979, when Deng (1904-97) made his historic visit to the US, only one month after the country established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.

Then China's vice-premier, Deng went to Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston, and Seattle, and was the first Chinese state leader to land on the soil of this longtime adversary after the founding of New China in 1949.

A quick montage of historical video clips in the film's trailer creates a tense atmosphere that makes the film seem more like a thriller than a documentary.

It is uncommon for Chinese documentaries to focus on state leaders - one reason that director Fu Hongxing labels it "a historical thriller".

"Deng is a superhero and a big star who won for China the chances to develop in that complicated world," the director says.

"The film, with a different storytelling method, will offer new acoustic and visual enjoyment for audiences who have a stereotype view against documentaries."

Surprisingly, the trailer shows scenes of pro-Kuomintang protestors against Deng's visit at the time, as well as footage of the attempted assassination,

Fu is famed for his Zhou Enlai's Diplomatic Career in 1998. The documentary recording the former Chinese premier's skills and devotion to the country's international relations beat blockbusters to become that year's highest grossing movie on the Chinese mainland.