PROPAGANDA FILMS

A friend asked me about propaganda films. Though I don't know exactly what propaganda films are, I think I should make a list about them for my friend.

FAVORITE PROPAGANDA FILMS (OR FILMS THAT I'M NOT SURE WHAT I SHOULD THINK ABOUT THEIR POLITICAL MESSAGES)

1.THE FOUNDING OF A REPUBLIC (2009, Han Sanping, Huang Jianxin, China, A-)
This pro-Mao film should be screened together with an anti-Mao film such as TIBET: CRY OF THE SNOW LION (2002, Tom Peosay, A+/A).

2.I AM CUBA (1964, Mikhail Kalatozov, A+)
This pro-Castro film should be screened together with an anti-Castro film such as THE LOST CITY (2005, Andy Garcia, A+).

3.KHAN KLUAY (2006, Kompin Kemgumnerd, animation, Thailand, B+)

4.THE MOST BEAUTIFUL (1944, Akira Kurosawa, Japan, A-)
This pro-Japanese military film should be screened together with an anti-Japanese military film such as DON'T CRY NANKING (1996, Wu Ziniu, China, A+).

5.A NEW ADVENTURE OF HANUMAN (1957, Payut Ngaokrachan, animation, Thailand, A)
This is an anti-Communist film.

6.SINGH SUM OIL (สิงห์สำออย) (1977, Dokdin Gunyamarn, Thailand, A+/A)
An anti-Communist film.

7.SIYAMA (2008, Preecha Songsakul, A-, Thailand)

8.STORM OVER ASIA (1928, Vsevolod Pudovkin, Soviet Union, A+/A)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjdP2UfmG0I

9.TEN GIRLS FROM DONG LOC (1997, Trong Ninh Luu, Vietnam, B+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63dq7vzMzQY&feature=related


FAVORITE FILMS ABOUT PROPAGANDA
1. A FILM UNFINISHED (2010, Yael Hersonski, Israel, A+)

2.INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (2009, Quentin Tarantino, A+)
The film-within-a-film that Daniel Brühl stars in is a propaganda film.

3.STARSHIP TROOPERS (1997, Paul Verhoeven, A+)



PROPAGANDA FILM WISH LIST
หนังเกี่ยวกับกษัตริย์เฟรเดอริกที่สองมหาราช หนังชุดนี้ได้รับความนิยมอย่างมากในยุคที่นาซีเรืองอำนาจในเยอรมนี

THE FRIDERICUS FILM SERIES

This German film series were made before and during the time of Hitler. These films tell the stories of King Frederick II, the Great. This king resembles Hitler in many ways.

Films in this series include:

1. THE FLUTE CONCERT AT SANS SOUCI (1930, Gustav Ucicky)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020893/

2. TRENCK (1932, Ernst Neubach + Heinz Paul)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023619/

3. THE KING’S DANCER (1932, Friedrich Zelnik)

4. THE ANTHEM OF LEUTHEN (1933, Carl Froelich + Arzen von Cserepy)

5. FRIDERICUS (1937, Johannes Meyer)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0136208/

6. PRETTY MISS SCHRAGG (1937, Hans Deppe)

7. THE GREAT KING (1942, Veit Harlan)

Siegfried Kracauer wrote about the Fridericus Film Series in his book: FROM CALIGARI TO HITLER: A PSYCHOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE GERMAN FILM (1947). Here is an excerpt from the book:

“The whole series was a thorough attempt to familiarize the masses with the idea of a Fuehrer. None other than Voltaire is called upon to recommend him. When in TRENCK, Frederick advocates sovereignty of the law, Voltaire replies that good sovereigns are preferable to good laws—enlightened reason paying homage to the absolute ruler. The King justifies this flattering opinion by playing, as before, the part of the people’s father. His patriarchal regime is a mixture of old-Prussian feudalism and Nazi sham socialism. He promises oppressed farmers to punish the Governor of their province for partially favoring the big-estate owner (TRENCK); he cancels all victory celebrations, urging that the money provided for them be given to the war victims (KING’S DANCER); he thinks of allotting funds for cultural purposes on the eve of a decisive battle (ANTHEM OF LEUTHEN). Everybody will have to admit that the security Frederick’s subjects enjoy is inaccessible to the citizens of a democracy, for in his protective zeal the King generously helps lovers (KING’S DANCER) and even goes so far as to prevent the wife of an absent major from committing adultery (FLUTE CONCERT). This model King is a veritable genius.”