(Ecns.cn)-- After going out to see Beginning of the Great Revival, a film commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), many moviegoers returned home to find that "red" stories had also occupied their televisions, with most channels broadcasting shows about the early history of the Party.
In the months building up to July 1, around 90 red culture TV shows and films hit screens, many of them packed with star power and high production values to attract viewers.
Young viewers especially, who typically have found revolutionary TV shows less appealing, were surprised to find so many fresh young faces appearing in the latest red programming.
A TV series titled Separating the Sky from the Earth starred youthful actors Huang Haibing and Zhang Meng in the leading roles of Mao Zedong and his wife Yang Kaihui, while CHINA 1921 featured famous actor Hu Jun as Li Dazhao, a founding member of the CPC.
Besides the stars, the TV shows tended to portray the normal lives of Party members in order to make them more accessible.
Hu Mei, director of Separating the Sky from the Earth, said, "The TV series not only describes the historical event, but also focuses on the historical figure's thoughts as a normal person in everyday life."
Some TV shows also added modern elements, such as emphasizing visual effects, in order to meet audience expectations.
Many of the shows depicted historic moments that audiences have only read about in books. The TV series The East, for example, vividly represented the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949.
Despite efforts made by directors, the quality of red-culture themed TV dramas may have been compromised by an "overload" of stories about CPC leaders.
There is a tendency for homemade TV series to rush into one particular theme in a short period of time, which certainly kills the novelty of the story, according to a report on Sina.com, one of the major portals in China.
The actors need to resemble historical figures in historical dramas, which is essential for the show's authenticity, according to the report.
"All viewers know that Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek were different kinds of people," it said. "If a director chooses the wrong actor, no matter how big a star he/she is, the show will be on the wrong track."
Young people may have been able to better identify with Party leaders in the shows, but some netizens were not happy with the new adaptations.
"Revolution is not a soap opera," a netizen tagged Buhaowan said. "It is supposed to be an epic story. Young idols should not be involved."
Nonetheless, red films and TV dramas may still have a bright future, since many blank spots have not been filled in yet.
The stories of students during the Sino-Japanese War, for instance, would be a great theme to explore, the report in Sina.com said.
"Many military officers sacrificed themselves during the Sino-Japanese War, and they are considered heroes by many people," it said. "Their biographies could be adapted for television.”
