A Pechino, tra il 1977 e il 1978, enormi manifesti di condanna del regime comunista appaiono sul cosiddetto Democracy Wall.
Nasce in Cina il movimento denominato, in analogia con i fatti del passato a Praga, “Primavera di Pechino”.
I leader del movimento ampliano il programma di modernizzazione, avviato dal nuovo leader della Cina Deng Xiaoping, aggiungendo il diritto alla libertà e ai diritti umani.
La polizia cinese chiude con la forza la mostra d’arte al Parco Beihai a Pechino del gruppo di artisti contemporanei, Stars. Il primo centro di artisti riuniti con lo scopo di allontanarsi dai modelli stilistici e dai contenuti imposti dall’arte ufficiale, ispirata ancora al Realismo Socialista di stampo Sovietico. Una mostra che era stata visitata in pochi giorni da 30’000 persone. Per aver pubblicato un saggio sul Muro della Democrazia è stato arrestato l’attivista Wei Jingsheng. Migliaia di cittadini scendono in strada nei pressi di Piazza Tienanmen, marciando in segno di protesta e chiedendo il diritto alla libertà di parola. Si tratta della prima manifestazione di questo tipo dalla rivoluzione culturale voluta da Mao.
Le autorità imprigionano Xu Wenli, un altro redattore di Democracy Wall per oltre 15 anni e costringono all’esilio la maggior parte del gruppo Stars (tra cui Ai Weiwei).
A registrare tutto questo è una giovane e audace regista di nome Chi Xiaoning. Nascosti per decenni, i filmati di questi atti di ribellione al regime sono stati presentati per la prima volta in Beijing Spring, il documentario americano, di Andy Cohen e Gaylen Ross, vincitore di diversi premi, tra cui il Premio della giuria FIFA/Amnesty International, a Montreal nel 2021 e il Premio Dart per il miglior documentario internazionale, a Barcellona nello stesso anno.
Il documentario racconta la breve “Primavera di Pechino” attraverso il racconto di chi l’ha vissuta in prima persona e ne ha pagato le conseguenze, con l’arresto o con l’esilio.
Beijing Spring (USA, 2021)
Regia: Andy Cohen e Gaylen Ross
Durata: 50’
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