Review1921 movie review: historical drama celebrating Chinese Communist Party centenary is not for the uninitiated

A celebration of Communist rule more than an explainer, 1921 features a series of discussions about its virtues as an ideology

The main characters are introduced with their names on screen, but not developed in any way

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A still from 1921 (category IIB, Mandarin), directed by Huang Jianxin, Zheng Dasheng.

Published: 5:15pm, 7 Jul 2021Updated: 5:15pm, 7 Jul 2021

2/5 stars

Exactly 10 years after dramatising the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in the star-studded epic Beginning of the Great Revival, director Huang Jianxin is called upon to perform the exact same task with 1921.

Now celebrating 100 years since the party’s inception, Huang and co-director Zheng Dasheng turn their attentions away from Mao Zedong, whose courtship of second wife Yang Kaihui took up the bulk of the previous film, and instead follow the fortunes of Li Da, Chen Duxiu and other struggling founder members of the party in the tumult of Shanghai.

The producers have opted for a cast of young, fresh-faced performers to play these historically pivotal roles, as opposed to the 100-strong cast of celebrated A-listers who jostled for screen time a decade ago.

Viewers unfamiliar with early 20th century Chinese history may struggle to keep up, as the filmmakers assume that their audience is there to celebrate these events rather than learn about them.