Az igazi Mao (1995)
Directed by Silveszter Siklosi
Genres - Comedy |
Sub-Genres - Political Satire, Satire |
Run Time - 54 min. |
Countries - Hungary |
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Synopsis by Sandra Brennan
This satirical Hungarian pseudo-documentary speculates upon the true identity of Chairman Mao. The fun begins as Jonathan W. Highstone, an art history professor at Michigan University, lectures upon Mao's early life. According to Highstone, Mao's older brother moved to Chicago in 1906 where he immediately began a life of crime. He soon adopted the nickname Wasp and became involved with mob wars. In 1935, as Mao was embroiled in the Long March in China, Wasp suddenly disappeared. Using amazing film clips, Professor Highstone compares the pre-march Mao to the post-march Mao two years later. The latter Mao appears remarkably robust and healthy after the ordeal. Based on the photographs, Highstone concludes the man in the photographs after the Long March is not Mao at all, but his older brother. The real Mao died enroute. Therefore, the man who became China's leader was, in fact, a petty gangster. This explains how the Red Chinese got hold of military equipment (the Italian Mafia arranged it). Highstone's theories provide great insight into Mao's subsequent activities.
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Keywords
professor, brother, China, identity-switch, leader, organized-crime, politician