Caste System

INDIA

Caste at Birth     (53 minutes)
1991 production. 
<$21.50 rental>  
[IU]

Faces of Man Series: India (1986)     (23 minutes)
Looks at caste, cites, and rural areas.  
<$14>  
[IU]

Principles of Caste (1980)     (26 minutes)
A 1980 16 mm film production.  
<$15.75 rental from Kent State> 
[KU]

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  Children

CHINA

Nova: China's Only Child (1987)     (55 minutes)
British production which examines how China's one-child family policy is carried out in Changzhou, a southern city.  Includes interviews with officials and others.  Excellent.  
[PBS]

JAPAN

Japan Series, produced by the National Film Board of Canada.  Series include:

Children of the Tribe     (28 minutes)
Close family ties and intense focus on academics influence children's lives. Won first prize at 25th Competition for Films on Japan (Tokyo)

TIBET

Tibet in Exile     (30 minutes)
Won an award at the 1991 Chicago Film Festival.  Traces the story of ten children smuggled out of Tibet to the exile community in India, where 120,000 Tibetans perpetuate their customs. 
[F]

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  Communes

CHINA

Felix Greene's One Man's China
This is a 1973 series, one of the first to come from China.  They are on 16 mm film and are 25 minutes in length.  They reflect the sort of generous view held by many Western progressives about China during the Cultural Revolution.  Series include:
   -A Great Treasure House--Medicine in China
   -Eight or Nine in the Morning
   -Friendship First, Competition Second
   -One Nation, Many Peoples
   -Self-Reliance
   -The People's Army
   -The People's Communes
<They can be rented from Kent State; $15.75 each>

North China Commune     (81 minutes)
Produced by the National Film Board of Canada.  This video explores life on a  commune in rural North China.  Decollectivization of agriculture has occurred since  this video was made, but it is a useful look at practices during the Mao era. 
[F]

Something for Everyone     (28 minutes)
1979 Film Australia production on 16 mm film.  Follows a family in its life on a  Guangdong commune. <$18.75 rental>  
[KU]

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  Community

CHINA

China Kaleidoscope
This series was put together by Nan Hai Arts Center from Chinese television news  magazine shows.  It provides an opportunity to get a Chinese perspective on Chinese  life.  There are four tapes available, each 50 minutes long.  Contact Nan Hai for a  detailed list of subjects on the various tapes.  For example, Tape 1 includes Beijing's  Markets, The Water Shortage in Xi'an, Life in a Chinese Village, the Li Yuan Theater  in Beijing, China's Pop Stars Go On Tour, Fashion in Beijing, Women Police Officers  in Training, and more.  The tapes are in mandarin with English subtitles.  
<Each is $34.95; the set is $125.82>

Felix Greene's One Man's China
This is a 1973 series, one of the first to come from China.  They are on 16 mm film and are 25 minutes in length.  They reflect the sort of generous view held by many Western progressives about China during the Cultural Revolution.  Series include:
   -A Great Treasure House--Medicine in China
   -Eight or Nine in the Morning
   -Friendship First, Competition Second
   -One Nation, Many Peoples
   -Self-Reliance
   -The People's Army
   -The People's Communes
<They can be rented from Kent State; $15.75 each>

Heart of the Dragon, The
Produced by Peter Montagnon and a British film crew in 1981-1983 and originally broadcast in the US in 1985, this twelve hour series features outstanding looks at everyday life in rural and urban China.  The crew had remarkable access and  examined the full range of human activity.  Programs include: 
   -Remembering  (interaction between tradition and modernity)
   -Eating (agriculture, food, festivals), Living (village life)
   -Believing (Confucianism, Buddhism, and  Daoism's persistence in China)
   -Caring (mental health treatment)
   -Marrying (rural marriage, ceremonies, and celebrations)
   -Mediating  (divorce)
   -Working (industrial labor)
   -Correcting (law, courts, and punishment)
   -Creating (art, music)
   -Understanding (science, ecology)
   -Trading (economic  development, foreign trade)
Though some segments are a bit dated  (particularly those dealing with economic matters), this remains  the best comprehensive series on contemporary China.  A series of 26 half-hour lessons has been recently constructed from the original  programs along with new presentations from specialists.  This series is called "The Chinese." [PBS]  The University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies has published two editions of "The Chinese" to accompany the series and there are also student and teacher guides available.

INDIA

Bombay: Our City     (82 minutes); (57 minute version also available)
Bombay is an enormous city in size and social distance. Roughly half of Bombay's population live in slum conditions. This 1985 film examines how those four million people, most of whom are employed, endure. The film received several international festival awards at the time of its release. Anand Patwardhan, director. 
<Purchase $490/Rental $125>  
[FRIF]

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  Crime

CHINA

Beyond the Clouds     (240 minutes)
Investigates life in Lijiang, a Naxi minority region of Yunnan province.  Follows police investigation of a murder, the activities of an independent businessman, the  effort of a college teacher to help her handicapped daughter, and the concerns of a doctor that his practice be continued. Fascinating, but clearly teachers will need to select short segments for presentation to the class. 
[NG and PBS]

JAPAN

Autumn Rain: Crime in Japan     (30 minutes)
Follows two young policeofficers after graduation from academy into the neighborhood police boxes. Includes interviews with yakuza, members of organized crime groups.
[CC]

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  Domestic Violence

INDIA

India: Women's Rights     (28 minutes)
Examines the deplorable and dangerous circumstances of women's lives.  Deals with female infanticide, battered  wives and violence over dowries.
<$99/available for rent from Kent State; $18.75>   
[CC]

Back to TOP

  Education

CHINA

Beyond the Clouds     (240 minutes)
Investigates life in Lijiang, a Naxi minority region of Yunnan province.  Follows police investigation of a murder, the activities of an independent businessman, the  effort of a college teacher to help her handicapped daughter, and the concerns of a doctor that his practice be continued. Fascinating, but clearly teachers will need to select short segments for presentation to the class. 
[NG and PBS]

Students and Teachers     (10 minutes)
A 1973 Xerox/ABC production on 16 mm film. Consists of interviews during the Cultural Revolution. 
<$8.50 rental>  
[KU]

INDIA

Rana     (25 minutes)
Young female Muslim student in Delhi.

School Story     (30 minutes)
Looks at one school in backwater India (in Haryana state) and in urban Amman, Jordan.  Considers the role of education in economic development and social progress.  
[CC]

JAPAN

Video Letter form Japan II
Produced by The Asia Society [AS].  Series include:

The College Years     (25 minutes)
Looks at the lives of students in two Tokyo colleges, focusing on activities, problems and decisions confronting contemporary college students.

SINGAPORE

Singapore: Toward Tomorrow     (30 minutes)
Credits effective leadership, diligent people, good education, and a commitment to free enterprise with making Singapore prosperous.  
[CC]

Back to TOP

  Elderly

CHINA

Old Men (1999)     (94 minutes)
Lina Yang, an independent filmmaker who is a graduate of the People's Liberation Army Art Academy, spent time in 1996 with a group of old men who gathered everyday in a street near her home. The men were as regular in their routine as factory workers. The film has received several awards at international festivals.  
<Purchase: $440/Rental: $100>  
[FRIF] 

JAPAN

Aging in Japan: When Traditional Mechanisms Vanish     (45 minutes)
The video takes place in a bath house, where the elderly fight isolation. 
<$90>   
[FHS]    

Video Letter from Japan II
Produced by The Asia Society [AS].  Series include:

Choices for Men Approaching Age Sixty     (25 minutes)
A glimpse into the lives of Japanese preparing to retire.  Includes discussion of religion in Japanese society.

Back to TOP

  Family

CHINA

Generations: A Chinese Family     (28 minutes)
Produced by Maryknoll Media.  Looks at how a contemporary family preserves its traditions while dealing with the modern world. 
[F]

Heart of the Dragon, The
Produced by Peter Montagnon and a British film crew in 1981-1983 and originally broadcast in the US in 1985, this twelve hour series features outstanding looks at everyday life in rural and urban China.  The crew had remarkable access and  examined the full range of human activity.  Programs include: 
    -Remembering  (interaction between tradition and modernity)
   -Eating (agriculture, food, festivals), Living (village life)
   -Believing (Confucianism, Buddhism, and  Daoism's persistence in China)
   -Caring (mental health treatment)
   -Marrying (rural marriage, ceremonies, and celebrations)
   -Mediating  (divorce)
   -Working (industrial labor)
   -Correcting (law, courts, and punishment)
   -Creating (art, music)
   -Understanding (science, ecology)
   -Trading (economic  development, foreign trade)
Though some segments are a bit dated  (particularly those dealing with economic matters), this remains  the best comprehensive series on contemporary China.  A series of 26 half-hour lessons has been recently constructed from the original  programs along with new presentations from specialists.  This series is called "The Chinese." [PBS]  The University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies has published two editions of "The Chinese" to accompany the series and there are also student and teacher guides available.

Immigrant Story (1999)     (20 minutes)
Mr. Lo lives in Hong Kong and has managed to bring his three children from Shan Wei in southern China. His wife, however, is not permitted to migrate, even after the reunification of Hong Kong with China. The film shows the family's impoverished living conditions and follows it on a holiday visit back to Shan Wei. Yvonne Yuen Nan Ng, director.  
<Purchase: $185/Rental $45>
[FRIF] 

Nova: China's Only Child (1987)     (55 minutes)
British production which examines how China's one-child family policy is carried out in Changzhou, a southern city.  Includes interviews with officials and others.  Excellent.  
[PBS]

Something for Everyone     (28 minutes)
1979 Film Australia production on 16 mm film.  Follows a family in its life on a  Guangdong commune. <$18.75 rental>  
[KU]

INDIA

Dadi and Her Family: A Rural Mother-in-Law in North India     (45 minutes)
Best available film on women in rural India.

INDONESIA

Indonesia's Doctor of Happiness     (30 minutes)
Dr. Suyono travels about promoting small families.  Abortions are illegal in Indonesia and the government promotes birth control through economic incentives.   
[CC]

JAPAN

Inside Japan: Tradition and Family Life     (23 minutes)
Old world customs collide with modern society.  Focuses on atypical settings: a family living in small town Japan and a Japanese man married to an American woman.  4 stars from Video Rating Guide for Libraries.
[CC]

Osaka Story (1994)     (84 minutes)
Filmmaker Toichi Nakata spent three years abroad and upon his return documented the strains that had developed in his family. Nakata's father is a Korean immigrant to Japan and has difficulties serving as a bridge between his Korean family and his wife's Japanese  family. His siblings are also confronting competing loyalties and desires.
<Purchase: $440/Rental: $100> 
[FRIF]

NEPAL

Sherpa     (29 minutes)
Follows a typical sherpa family high in the Himalayas. First place, National Educational Film Festival. 
[CC]

Back to TOP

  Fashion

CHINA

China Kaleidoscope
This series was put together by Nan Hai Arts Center from Chinese television news  magazine shows.  It provides an opportunity to get a Chinese perspective on Chinese  life.  There are four tapes available, each 50 minutes long.  Contact Nan Hai for a  detailed list of subjects on the various tapes.  For example, Tape 1 includes Beijing's  Markets, The Water Shortage in Xi'an, Life in a Chinese Village, the Li Yuan Theater  in Beijing, China's Pop Stars Go On Tour, Fashion in Beijing, Women Police Officers in Training, and more.  The tapes are in mandarin with English subtitles.  
<Each is $34.95; the set is $125.82>

VIETNAM

Ao Dai (The Tunic Dress)     (13 minutes)
This 1991 film suggests that the these traditional dresses are increasingly being worn in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and is indicative of improving economic conditions. The film is built around a single high school student. Le Trac, director.
<Purchase: $160/Rental $35 
[FRIF]

Back to TOP

  Female Infanticide

INDIA

India: Women's Rights     (28 minutes)
Examines the deplorable and dangerous circumstances of women's lives.  Deals with female infanticide, battered  wives and violence over dowries.
<$99/available for rent from Kent State; $18.75>   
[CC]

Back to TOP

  Festivals

CHINA

Heart of the Dragon, The
Produced by Peter Montagnon and a British film crew in 1981-1983 and originally broadcast in the US in 1985, this twelve hour series features outstanding looks at everyday life in rural and urban China.  The crew had remarkable access and  examined the full range of human activity.  Programs include: 
   -Remembering  (interaction between tradition and modernity)
   -Eating (agriculture, food, festivals), Living (village life)
   -Believing (Confucianism, Buddhism, and  Daoism's persistence in China)
   -Caring (mental health treatment)
   -Marrying (rural marriage, ceremonies, and celebrations)
   -Mediating  (divorce)
   -Working (industrial labor)
   -Correcting (law, courts, and punishment)
   -Creating (art, music)
   -Understanding (science, ecology)
   -Trading (economic  development, foreign trade)
Though some segments are a bit dated  (particularly those dealing with economic matters), this remains  the best comprehensive series on contemporary China.  A series of 26 half-hour lessons has been recently constructed from the original  programs along with new presentations from specialists.  This series is called "The Chinese." [PBS]  The University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies has published two editions of "The Chinese" to accompany the series and there are also student and teacher guides available.

First Moon (1987)     (37 minutes)
Focuses on rural Chinese celebrations of the lunar new year.

INDIA

Wedding of the Goddess
   Part I     (36 minutes)
     -History of the Chittirai festival in Madurai, Tamilnadu.
   Part II     (40 minutes)
     -Film of the 19 day festival honoring the Goddess.

JAPAN

Budo Sai: The Spirit of the Samurai     (70 minutes)
Twelve martial arts masters demonstrate their skills and mental discipline at the Budo Sai festival.
<$149/$75>  
[FHS]

Back to TOP

  Gender Relations

CHINA

Heart of the Dragon, The
Produced by Peter Montagnon and a British film crew in 1981-1983 and originally broadcast in the US in 1985, this twelve hour series features outstanding looks at everyday life in rural and urban China.  The crew had remarkable access and  examined the full range of human activity.  Programs include: 
   -Remembering  (interaction between tradition and modernity)
   -Eating (agriculture, food, festivals), Living (village life)
   -Believing (Confucianism, Buddhism, and  Daoism's persistence in China)
   -Caring (mental health treatment)
   -Marrying (rural marriage, ceremonies, and celebrations)
   -Mediating  (divorce)
   -Working (industrial labor)
   -Correcting (law, courts, and punishment)
   -Creating (art, music)
   -Understanding (science, ecology)
   -Trading (economic  development, foreign trade)
Though some segments are a bit dated  (particularly those dealing with economic matters), this remains  the best comprehensive series on contemporary China.  A series of 26 half-hour lessons has been recently constructed from the original  programs along with new presentations from specialists.  This series is called "The Chinese." [PBS]  The University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies has published two editions of "The Chinese" to accompany the series and there are also student and teacher guides available.

Small Happiness (1984)     (58 minutes)
Examines the place of women in rural society and the impact of the Communist Party on gender relations. The best known of the series and the best documentary available on marriage and women.

Back to TOP

  Homelessness

JAPAN

Hidden Japan, The     (25 minutes)
Produced by Maryknoll Media.  Looks at Japanese outcasts: homeless, drug addicts, and alcoholics. Follows the efforts of Maryknoll missionaries and Japanese volunteers to address these social problems.
[F]

Back to TOP

  Housing

CHINA

From Courtyard House to Block Apartment (1987)     (23 minutes)
This film by Wynette Yao examines how shifting to modern housing affects people in Taiwan.  
<Purchase: $220/Rental $50>
[FRIF] 

Back to TOP

  Marriage

CHINA

Heart of the Dragon, The
Produced by Peter Montagnon and a British film crew in 1981-1983 and originally broadcast in the US in 1985, this twelve hour series features outstanding looks at everyday life in rural and urban China.  The crew had remarkable access and  examined the full range of human activity.  Programs include: 
   -Remembering  (interaction between tradition and modernity)
   -Eating (agriculture, food, festivals), Living (village life)
   -Believing (Confucianism, Buddhism, and  Daoism's persistence in China)
   -Caring (mental health treatment)
   -Marrying (rural marriage, ceremonies, and celebrations)
   -Mediating  (divorce)
   -Working (industrial labor)
   -Correcting (law, courts, and punishment)
   -Creating (art, music)
   -Understanding (science, ecology)
   -Trading (economic  development, foreign trade)
Though some segments are a bit dated  (particularly those dealing with economic matters), this remains  the best comprehensive series on contemporary China.  A series of 26 half-hour lessons has been recently constructed from the original  programs along with new presentations from specialists.  This series is called "The Chinese." [PBS]  The University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies has published two editions of "The Chinese" to accompany the series and there are also student and teacher guides available.

Small Happiness (1984)     (58 minutes)
Examines the place of women in rural society and the impact of the Communist Party on gender relations. The best known of the series and the best documentary available on marriage and women.

INDIA

India: Women's Rights     (28 minutes)
Examines the deplorable and dangerous circumstances of women's lives.  Deals with female infanticide, battered  wives and violence over dowries.
<$99/available for rent from Kent State; $18.75>   
[CC]

JAPAN

Inside Japan: Tradition and Family Life     (23 minutes)
Old world customs collide with modern society.  Focuses on atypical settings: a family living in small town Japan and a Japanese man married to an American woman.  4 stars from Video Rating Guide for Libraries.
[CC]

Osaka Story (1994)     (84 minutes)
Filmmaker Toichi Nakata spent three years abroad and upon his return documented the strains that had developed in his family. Nakata's father is a Korean immigrant to Japan and has difficulties serving as a bridge between his Korean family and his wife's Japanese  family. His siblings are also confronting competing loyalties and desires.
<Purchase: $440/Rental: $100> 
[FRIF] 

Video Letter form Japan II
Produced by The Asia Society [AS].  Series include:

Opportunities for Women at Mid-Life     (25 minutes)
Examines the roles of housewife and the lives of middle aged couples.

Back to TOP

  Migration

CHINA

Immigrant Story (1999)     (20 minutes)
Mr. Lo lives in Hong Kong and has managed to bring his three children from Shan Wei in southern China. His wife, however, is not permitted to migrate, even after the reunification of Hong Kong with China. The film shows the family's impoverished living conditions and follows it on a holiday visit back to Shan Wei. Yvonne Yuen Nan Ng, director.  
<Purchase: $185/Rental $45>
[FRIF] 

JAPAN

Osaka Story (1994)     (84 minutes)
Filmmaker Toichi Nakata spent three years abroad and upon his return documented the strains that had developed in his family. Nakata's father is a Korean immigrant to Japan and has difficulties serving as a bridge between his Korean family and his wife's Japanese  family. His siblings are also confronting competing loyalties and desires.
<Purchase: $440/Rental: $100> 
[FRIF] 

Back to TOP

  Parenting

CHINA

Nova: China's Only Child (1987)     (55 minutes)
British production which examines how China's one-child family policy is carried out in Changzhou, a southern city.  Includes interviews with officials and others.  Excellent.  
[PBS]

JAPAN

Video Letter form Japan II
Produced by The Asia Society [AS].  Series include:

A Young Family     (25 minutes)
An in-depth look at the roles and responsibilities of young parents.

Back to TOP

  Population

CHINA

Nova: China's Only Child (1987)     (55 minutes)
British production which examines how China's one-child family policy is carried out in Changzhou, a southern city.  Includes interviews with officials and others.  Excellent.  
[PBS]

Back to TOP

  Poverty

CHINA

Immigrant Story (1999)     (20 minutes)
Mr. Lo lives in Hong Kong and has managed to bring his three children from Shan Wei in southern China. His wife, however, is not permitted to migrate, even after the reunification of Hong Kong with China. The film shows the family's impoverished living conditions and follows it on a holiday visit back to Shan Wei. Yvonne Yuen Nan Ng, director.  
<Purchase: $185/Rental $45>
[FRIF] 

INDIA

Bombay: Our City     (82 minutes); (57 minute version also available)
Bombay is an enormous city in size and social distance. Roughly half of Bombay's population live in slum conditions. This 1985 film examines how those four million people, most of whom are employed, endure. The film received several international festival awards at the time of its release. Anand Patwardhan, director. 
<Purchase $490/Rental $125>  
[FRIF]

Back to TOP

  Retirement

JAPAN

Video Letter from Japan II
Produced by The Asia Society [AS].  Series include:

Choices for Men Approaching Age Sixty     (25 minutes)
A glimpse into the lives of Japanese preparing to retire.  Includes discussion of religion in Japanese society.

Back to TOP

  Stereotypes

CHINA

Battle of China     (60 minutes)
Part of the US Government's World War II propaganda series "Why We Fight." This series was originally intended to indoctrinate US soldiers as they prepared to enter combat, but President Roosevelt decided that it should be shown to the general public to help marshal support for the war effort. Directed by Arthur Litvak under the general supervision of Frank Capra.  Interesting  for its stark presentation of the "virtuous Chinese" and the "cunning and determined Japanese."  Most useful for examining American perceptions of East Asia.  
<Available from many retailers, including The Scholar’s Bookshelf, for about $12>

Back to TOP

  Students

CHINA

Gate of Heavenly Peace, The (1995)
The 1995 Richard Gordon/Carma Hinton (Longbow) documentary for PBS is remarkably well supported on the web, including links to a wide variety of primary source selections and biographical entries on key players in the Beijing Spring drama. Highly recommended three hour documentary which reveals the miscalculations made by student leaders and Chinese officials. Includes a wealth of interviews. Controversial in China and in the exile community. Visit the award-winning program website. Twice shown on PBS’s Frontline series to mark the June 4th anniversary of the suppression of the movement.

Students and Teachers     (10 minutes)
A 1973 Xerox/ABC production on 16 mm film. Consists of interviews during the Cultural Revolution. 
<$8.50 rental>  
[KU]

Week in the Life of a Chinese Student, A     (20 minutes)
A 1986 AIMS Media production on 16 mm film.  Follows a junior high school  student. 
<$13 rental>  
[KU]

INDIA

Rana     (25 minutes)
Young female Muslim student in Delhi.

JAPAN

Video Letter form Japan II
Produced by The Asia Society [AS].  Series include:

The College Years     (25 minutes)
Looks at the lives of students in two Tokyo colleges, focusing on activities, problems and decisions confronting contemporary college students.

VIETNAM

Ao Dai (The Tunic Dress)     (13 minutes)
This 1991 film suggests that the these traditional dresses are increasingly being worn in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and is indicative of improving economic conditions. The film is built around a single high school student. Le Trac, director.
<Purchase: $160/Rental $35 
[FRIF]

Back to TOP

  Tradition

CHINA

All Under Heaven (1985)     (58 minutes)
Change and continuity in rural China. 

Ancient China     (50 minutes)
From the creation legend of Pan Ku to the demise of the Han Dynasty, this program traces Chinese history and explores the roots of Chinese culture today. Visit the Great Wall if China as scholars discuss why it remains even today a symbol of oppression, exemplified in the legend of the weeping woman; the Imperial Palace and how it exemplifies Chinese beliefs in harmony; and the Beijing Opera, whose works are an elaborate retelling of traditional folktales. The influences of Buddhism, ancestor worship, and Taoism in China are also discussed, along with stunning footage of the Buddhist caves and the Terra Cotta Army.
<Purchase $129 / Rental $75> 
[FHS]

China: The Middle Kingdom  (1985)     (50 minutes)
Addresses the people, the environment, and customs. 
<Available for rent from Kent State; $30.50>  
[KU]

Generations: A Chinese Family     (28 minutes)
Produced by Maryknoll Media.  Looks at how a contemporary family preserves its traditions while dealing with the modern world. 
[F]

Heart of the Dragon, The
Produced by Peter Montagnon and a British film crew in 1981-1983 and originally broadcast in the US in 1985, this twelve hour series features outstanding looks at everyday life in rural and urban China.  The crew had remarkable access and  examined the full range of human activity.  Programs include: 
   -Remembering  (interaction between tradition and modernity)
   -Eating (agriculture, food, festivals), Living (village life)
   -Believing (Confucianism, Buddhism, and  Daoism's persistence in China)
   -Caring (mental health treatment)
   -Marrying (rural marriage, ceremonies, and celebrations)
   -Mediating  (divorce)
   -Working (industrial labor)
   -Correcting (law, courts, and punishment)
   -Creating (art, music)
   -Understanding (science, ecology)
   -Trading (economic  development, foreign trade)
Though some segments are a bit dated  (particularly those dealing with economic matters), this remains  the best comprehensive series on contemporary China.  A series of 26 half-hour lessons has been recently constructed from the original  programs along with new presentations from specialists.  This series is called "The Chinese." [PBS]  The University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies has published two editions of "The Chinese" to accompany the series and there are also student and teacher guides available.

Old Men (1999)     (94 minutes)
Lina Yang, an independent filmmaker who is a graduate of the People's Liberation Army Art Academy, spent time in 1996 with a group of old men who gathered everyday in a street near her home. The men were as regular in their routine as factory workers. The film has received several awards at international festivals.  
<Purchase: $440/Rental: $100>  
[FRIF]

Small Happiness (1984)     (58 minutes)
Examines the place of women in rural society and the impact of the Communist Party on gender relations. The best known of the series and the best documentary available on marriage and women.

INDIA

Ancient India     (48 minutes)
The antecedents of modern Indian culture can be traced back to the Harappan civilization, which flourished between 2300 and 1500 BC in what are now Pakistan and Afghanistan. This program examines the religious tension between Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam, and the historical events that shaped the great Indian civilizations, from the Mauryab Empire through the Mogul Empire. Maps and scholars provide insight into a culture that remains vibrant and diverse today. 
<Purchase $129/Rental $75>  
[FHS]

Munni     (20 minutes)
Life of a young girl learning the traditional art of Mithali painting in a Bihari village.

JAPAN

Inside Japan: Tradition and Family Life     (23 minutes)
Old world customs collide with modern society.  Focuses on atypical settings: a family living in small town Japan and a Japanese man married to an American woman.  4 stars from Video Rating Guide for Libraries.
[CC]

Japan
Four hour series hosted by Jane Seymour (yes, “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”).
   The Electronic Tribe
       -Contrasts between industrial life and traditional work and life.
   The Legacy of the Shogun
       -Legacy of Tokugawa values in economic success social structure.
   The Sword and the Chrysanthemum
       -The paradox of the martial and aesthetic sides of the samurai.
   A Proper Place in the World
       -Discussion of the world role to be played by Japan. 
[CT, F]

Japan Series, produced by the National Film Board of Canada.  Series include:

Satori in the Right Cortex     (29 minutes)
"Satori" is a sudden flash of enlightenment.   Examines Japanese philosophical traditions and their persistence in contemporary life.  

Japanese Economic Bubble, The     (40 minutes)
Examines the bubble economy of the 1980s and its collapse.  Notes how Japanese culture and economy is becoming less distinctly Japanese. < $149/$75>
[FHS]

Japanese Way of Life, The     (25 minutes)
1990 ABC production. 
<$17.75 rental [IU]; $15.75 [KU]>

Osaka Story (1994)     (84 minutes)
Filmmaker Toichi Nakata spent three years abroad and upon his return documented the strains that had developed in his family. Nakata's father is a Korean immigrant to Japan and has difficulties serving as a bridge between his Korean family and his wife's Japanese  family. His siblings are also confronting competing loyalties and desires.
<Purchase: $440/Rental: $100> 
[FRIF] 

Samurai Japan     (48 minutes)
From their ascension to power in the 13th century to the unconditional surrender of Japan at the end of World War II, the Samurai, with their code of virtue and discipline, created a society that prized one's honor over one's life. In this program, scholars discuss the unique influence that this created and the impact of the Samurai on Japan's institutions and history, including the role of women in political alliances. Also discussed in Japan's shift from feudalism to a bureaucratic and cosmopolitan society, symbolically ruled by the emperor and administered by shoguns. 
<Purchase $129/ Rental $75>   
[FHS]

Written Face, The  (1995)     (89 minutes)
Tamasaburo BANDO is a distinguished Kabuki actor who specializes in women's roles. This film has four acts proceeding simultaneously and includes segments featuring geisha and film performers discussing this fading aspect of Japanese culture.  Daniel Smid, director.
<Purchase: $440/Rental $100> 
[FRIF] 

KOREA

Korea: Ancient Treasure, Modern Wonder     (25 minutes)
Pursues the Korean modernization in light of its ancient traditions and agrarian base. 
<Purchase $149/Rental $75>  
[FHS]

THAILAND

Thailand Before Buddha     (44 minutes)
Explores legends and archaeological finds to learn about prehistoric Thailand. Includes a visit to jungle nomads, people considered to be following ancient ways. 
<Purchase $149/ Rental $75> 
[FHS]

TIBET

Tibet in Exile     (30 minutes)
Won an award at the 1991 Chicago Film Festival.  Traces the story of ten children smuggled out of Tibet to the exile community in India, where 120,000 Tibetans perpetuate their customs. 
[F]

Tibet: The Survival of the Spirit     (92 minutes)
One of the most detailed documentaries to be filmed in Tibet since the Communist takeover.  A 1991 production of Clemens Kuby. 
[F]

VIETNAM

Ao Dai (The Tunic Dress)     (13 minutes)
This 1991 film suggests that the these traditional dresses are increasingly being worn in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and is indicative of improving economic conditions. The film is built around a single high school student. Le Trac, director.
<Purchase: $160/Rental $35 
[FRIF]

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  Western Culture

CHINA

Battle of China     (60 minutes)
Part of the US Government's World War II propaganda series "Why We Fight." This series was originally intended to indoctrinate US soldiers as they prepared to enter combat, but President Roosevelt decided that it should be shown to the general public to help marshal support for the war effort. Directed by Arthur Litvak under the general supervision of Frank Capra.  Interesting  for its stark presentation of the "virtuous Chinese" and the "cunning and determined Japanese."  Most useful for examining American perceptions of East Asia.  
<Available from many retailers, including The Scholar’s Bookshelf, for about $12>

Biography: Marco Polo     (50 minutes)
Investigates the life and adventures of the medieval merchant who introduced China to Europe. Includes reenactments. 
[A&E]

Swing in Beijing (2000)     (73 minutes)
Shui-bo Wang ("Sunrise Over Tiananmen Square") examines the contemporary art scene in China, discussing censorship, fading support for the arts, and the questionable value of Western recognition.
<Purchase: $440/Rental: $100> 
[FRIF] 

GENERAL ASIA

Marco Polo: Explorer or Imposter?     (59 minutes)
Although purported to be a factual travel journal, Marco Polo's Il Milione is now considered a work of historical fiction. Scholars-including Dr. Frances Wood, author of Did Marco Polo Go to China? -cannot reconcile the journal's notable omissions, incorrect details, and derivative information- or the fact that Polo is unmentioned in the official records of Kublai Khan, whom he allegedly served with such distinctions. This thought-provoking program builds a convincing case for the theory that Marco Polo wrote much of his account from secondhand sources such as travelers he met while a trader in Kashgar, the crossroads of East and West. 
<Purchase $149/Rental $75>  
[FHS]

JAPAN

Japanese Version, The     (55 minutes) 
Looks at how Japanese adapt Western cultural objects.  Can be rented for $17.75 from Indiana University. 1991 production.  
[CAM]

VIETNAM

Vietnam
A seven part CBS series which studies the roots of the conflict, the American involvement, the conduct of the war, and the impact on American veterans and society. 
<$139.98 from PBS, also from F>

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  Women

CHINA

Ancient China     (50 minutes)
From the creation legend of Pan Ku to the demise of the Han Dynasty, this program traces Chinese history and explores the roots of Chinese culture today. Visit the Great Wall if China as scholars discuss why it remains even today a symbol of oppression, exemplified in the legend of the weeping woman; the Imperial Palace and how it exemplifies Chinese beliefs in harmony; and the Beijing Opera, whose works are an elaborate retelling of traditional folktales. The influences of Buddhism, ancestor worship, and Taoism in China are also discussed, along with stunning footage of the Buddhist caves and the Terra Cotta Army.
<Purchase $129 / Rental $75> 
[FHS]

China Kaleidoscope
This series was put together by Nan Hai Arts Center from Chinese television news  magazine shows.  It provides an opportunity to get a Chinese perspective on Chinese  life.  There are four tapes available, each 50 minutes long.  Contact Nan Hai for a  detailed list of subjects on the various tapes.  For example, Tape 1 includes Beijing's  Markets, The Water Shortage in Xi'an, Life in a Chinese Village, the Li Yuan Theater  in Beijing, China's Pop Stars Go On Tour, Fashion in Beijing, Women Police Officers  in Training, and more.  The tapes are in mandarin with English subtitles.  
<Each is $34.95; the set is $125.82>

Small Happiness (1984)     (58 minutes)
Examines the place of women in rural society and the impact of the Communist Party on gender relations. The best known of the series and the best documentary available on marriage and women.

INDIA

Dadi and Her Family: A Rural Mother-in-Law in North India     (45 minutes)
Best available film on women in rural India.

Designing Women: Lifting the Veil     (30 minutes)
Two Indian women argue that women can succeed in business, even in the Arab world (especially in Jordon).  They also contend that developing economies possess entrepreneurs that can succeed in the world economy. 
<$99>  
[CC]

Eastern Spin     (23 minutes)
Women in northern India and Nepal believe in "trade, not aid."  Video follows their production of goods through export to the consumer. 
<$99>  
[CC]

India: Women's Rights     (28 minutes)
Examines the deplorable and dangerous circumstances of women's lives.  Deals with female infanticide, battered  wives and violence over dowries.
<$99/available for rent from Kent State; $18.75>   
[CC]

Munni     (20 minutes)
Life of a young girl learning the traditional art of Mithali painting in a Bihari village.

Rana     (25 minutes)
Young female Muslim student in Delhi.

JAPAN

Illustrated Handscroll: The Tale of Genji     (60 minutes)
The world's first novel was written by a woman, Murasaki Shikibu, in the eleventh century. This video follows the story as it is depicted on a series of handscroll panels.  
[FHS]

Inside Japan: Industry and Management     (25 minutes)
Look at production of goods, Japanese stores and television ads, and the changing role of women in the workplace. 
<$99 [CC]; $15.75 rental [KU]>

Japan Series, produced by the National Film Board of Canada.  Series include:

Japanese Woman     (28 minutes)
Interviews with women, look at lifestyles, and comparison with World War II. Won second prize at 28th Competition for Films on Japan.

Samurai Japan     (48 minutes)
From their ascension to power in the 13th century to the unconditional surrender of Japan at the end of World War II, the Samurai, with their code of virtue and discipline, created a society that prized one's honor over one's life. In this program, scholars discuss the unique influence that this created and the impact of the Samurai on Japan's institutions and history, including the role of women in political alliances. Also discussed in Japan's shift from feudalism to a bureaucratic and cosmopolitan society, symbolically ruled by the emperor and administered by shoguns. 
<Purchase $129/ Rental $75>   
[FHS]

Video Letter form Japan II
Produced by The Asia Society [AS].  Series include:

The Early Working Years     (25 minutes)
Follows workers as they begin their careers, includes discussion of the opportunities for women.

Opportunities for Women at Mid-Life     (25 minutes)
Examines the roles of housewife and the lives of middle aged couples.

Written Face, The  (1995)     (89 minutes)
Tamasaburo BANDO is a distinguished Kabuki actor who specializes in women's roles. This film has four acts proceeding simultaneously and includes segments featuring geisha and film performers discussing this fading aspect of Japanese culture.  Daniel Smid, director.
<Purchase: $440/Rental $100> 
[FRIF] 

VIETNAM

Ao Dai (The Tunic Dress)     (13 minutes)
This 1991 film suggests that the these traditional dresses are increasingly being worn in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and is indicative of improving economic conditions. The film is built around a single high school student. Le Trac, director.
<Purchase: $160/Rental $35 
[FRIF]

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