: Even famous directors like Chen Kaige and John Woo took on acting roles for the project.
: The movie depicts the historical period from 1945 to 1949, focusing on the power struggle between the Communist Party (led by Mao Zedong) and the Nationalist Party (led by Chiang Kai-shek). Propaganda and Pastiche - OpenEdition Journals Jian guo da ye
A defining feature of the 2009 film (released internationally as The Founding of a Republic ) is its unprecedented star-studded cast , featuring over 170 of the most famous Chinese actors and directors. : Even famous directors like Chen Kaige and
: Most of the high-profile stars reportedly waived their standard appearance fees to participate in the film as a tribute to the national anniversary. : Most of the high-profile stars reportedly waived
: The film includes brief appearances by international stars such as Jackie Chan (as a journalist), Jet Li (as Chen Shaokuan), Zhang Ziyi , and Stephen Chow .
Commissioned by China's state film regulators to mark the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, the film utilized "celebrity power" as a tactical shift to attract a younger audience to a historical epic. Key features of this production include: