China Exclusive: Documentary about Deng Xiaoping's U.S. visit hits Chinese screen

A documentary about late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's official visit to the United States in 1979, hit Chinese theaters on Friday.

The film, "Mr. Deng goes to Washington", details then vice premier Deng's nine-day visit to the United States from late January to early February, including meetings with American politicians, TV interviews and footage of two assassination attempts on Deng.

The producer of the documentary, Lyu Muzi, told Xinhua the 94-minute film tried to present a full and vivid record of the historic visit. "And we will start to promote the product in the U.S. and European markets in the next half year."

Deng's visit took place shortly after the United States established diplomatic ties with China in January the same year.

Director Fu Hongxing was only 16 when Deng made the visit in 1979. "I was at first preparing to make a documentary about former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, but when I went through the historical materials, I was inspired and thought maybe I could make one of Deng's visit first," Fu said.

"I believe people, just like me, will be curious to watch the film. Meanwhile, as the Chinese market develops, the audience expects more diversified movies."

China has become the world's second-largest film market, with box office reaching 29.6 billion yuan (about 4.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2014.

"Historical documentaries were popular in China in the 1990s. I hope after the screening of 'Mr. Deng goes to Washington', people's interests in documentary films will be reignited," Lyu said.

"The movie is awesome. It helps more people understand history, " said Wang Yan, a journalist in Shanghai, after watching the film.

According to Lyu, 90 percent of the video used in the film was purchased from major U.S. TV networks such as ABC, NBC and CBS, with English as the original language. The National Archives and Records Administration and Carter Center also provided some materials.

In addition to archived information, the film interviews personnel involved in Deng's visit, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former U.S. National Security Advisor to President Carter Zbigniew Brzezinski, Deng's bodyguards and secret service from the White House.

"An American reporter based in China told me at the Beijing premiere that he had no problem understanding the film," Lyu said. "And we are very happy about it."

The team is planning to participate in international film festivals in Vancouver, Toronto, Pusan and Amsterdam, said Lyu, and the TV series version of the documentary will be available in the U.S. "It's possible we will seek an Emmy Award nomination," she added.

During Deng's visit, Deng demonstrated China's resolve to open to the world and learn from developed countries in science and technology, education and culture. Endit