Red Memory By Tania Branigan

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

'how Could They Do It?'

20230410

A haunting exploration of China's Cultural Revolution through the rarely heard stories of those who lived through Mao's decade of madness.

Mao's 1966 Cultural Revolution heralded a decade of hysteria, violence and relentless persecution. Teenagers were turned against adults, even parents. Party officials, artists, teachers and intellectuals were publicly humiliated, beaten and even murdered after vicious 'struggle sessions'.

Yet China's bloodiest decade is now barely mentioned, and both victims and perpetrators still live with this unspoken trauma. Now, after forty years of silence, Tania Branigan hears the stories of those struggling with the impact of this murderous decade...

Today: a former Red Guard struggles to make sense of the atrocities committed by fellow teenagers in the 'Red Terror' of 1966.

Writer: Tania Branigan is the Guardian's foreign leader writer, and was the Guardian's China correspondent for seven years.

Reader: Chipo Chung is an acclaimed screen and stage actor and activist of Zimbabwean/Chinese descent.

Producer: Justiine Willett

Abridger: Katrin Williams

A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan.

'they Really Were Afraid Of Stravinsky.'

20230411

A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution through the rarely heard stories of those who lived through Mao's decade of madness.

Yet China's bloodiest decade is now barely mentioned, and both victims and perpetrators still live with this unspoken trauma. Now, after forty years of silence, Tania Branigan hears their stories.

Today: Composer Wang Xilin recounts his dramatic fall from grace after Mao's crackdown on Western music, which led to his banishment, traumatic struggle sessions and torture.

Writer: Tania Branigan is the Guardian's foreign leader writer, and was the Guardian's China correspondent for seven years.

Reader: Chipo Chung is an acclaimed screen and stage actor and activist of Zimbabwean/Chinese descent.

Producer: Justiine Willett

Abridger: Katrin Williams

A haunting exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan.

A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan.

'violence Is Truth'

20230412

A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution through the rarely heard stories of those who lived through Mao's decade of madness.

Yet China's bloodiest decade is now barely mentioned, and both victims and perpetrators still live with this unspoken trauma. Now, after forty years of silence, Tania Branigan hears their stories.

Today: a widower continues to fight for an apology for the brutal murder of his wife by her students.

Writer: Tania Branigan is the Guardian's foreign leader writer, and was the Guardian's China correspondent for seven years.

Reader: Chipo Chung is an acclaimed screen and stage actor and activist of Zimbabwean/Chinese descent.

Producer: Justiine Willett

Abridger: Katrin Williams

A haunting exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan.

A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan.

'we Were All Idealistic.'

20230413

A hauntingly powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution through the stories of those who lived through Mao's decade of madness.

Yet China's bloodiest decade is now barely mentioned, and both victims and perpetrators still live with this unspoken trauma. Now, after forty years of silence, Tania Branigan hears their stories.

Today: a group of former 'Educated Youth' workers mourn the lost years of their youths spent in hardship and suffering out in the Chinese countryside.

Writer: Tania Branigan is the Guardian's foreign leader writer, and was the Guardian's China correspondent for seven years.

Reader: Chipo Chung

Producer: Justiine Willett

Abridger: Katrin Williams

A hauntingly powerful account of the Cultural Revolution by the Guardian's Tania Branigan.

A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan.

Echoes Of The Cultural Revolution

20230414

A hauntingly powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution through the stories of those who lived through Mao's decade of madness.

Yet China's bloodiest decade is now barely mentioned, and both victims and perpetrators still live with this unspoken trauma. Now, after forty years of silence, Tania Branigan hears their stories.

In today's final episode: Mao impersonators, kitsch Cultural Revolution restaurants and student 'struggle sessions', as China struggles to make sense of its traumatic past...

Writer: Tania Branigan is the Guardian's foreign leader writer, and was the Guardian's China correspondent for seven years.

Reader: Chipo Chung

Producer: Justiine Willett

Abridger: Katrin Williams

The final part of Tania Branigan's haunting exploration of China's Cultural Revolution.

A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	'how Could They Do It?'	20230410	A haunting exploration of China's Cultural Revolution through the rarely heard stories of those who lived through Mao's decade of madness. Mao's 1966 Cultural Revolution heralded a decade of hysteria, violence and relentless persecution. Teenagers were turned against adults, even parents. Party officials, artists, teachers and intellectuals were publicly humiliated, beaten and even murdered after vicious 'struggle sessions'. Yet China's bloodiest decade is now barely mentioned, and both victims and perpetrators still live with this unspoken trauma. Now, after forty years of silence, Tania Branigan hears the stories of those struggling with the impact of this murderous decade... Today: a former Red Guard struggles to make sense of the atrocities committed by fellow teenagers in the 'Red Terror' of 1966. Writer: Tania Branigan is the Guardian's foreign leader writer, and was the Guardian's China correspondent for seven years. Reader: Chipo Chung is an acclaimed screen and stage actor and activist of Zimbabwean/Chinese descent. Producer: Justiine Willett Abridger: Katrin Williams A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan.
02	'they Really Were Afraid Of Stravinsky.'	20230411	A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution through the rarely heard stories of those who lived through Mao's decade of madness. Mao's 1966 Cultural Revolution heralded a decade of hysteria, violence and relentless persecution. Teenagers were turned against adults, even parents. Party officials, artists, teachers and intellectuals were publicly humiliated, beaten and even murdered after vicious 'struggle sessions'. Yet China's bloodiest decade is now barely mentioned, and both victims and perpetrators still live with this unspoken trauma. Now, after forty years of silence, Tania Branigan hears their stories. Today: Composer Wang Xilin recounts his dramatic fall from grace after Mao's crackdown on Western music, which led to his banishment, traumatic struggle sessions and torture. Writer: Tania Branigan is the Guardian's foreign leader writer, and was the Guardian's China correspondent for seven years. Reader: Chipo Chung is an acclaimed screen and stage actor and activist of Zimbabwean/Chinese descent. Producer: Justiine Willett Abridger: Katrin Williams A haunting exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan. A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan.
03	'violence Is Truth'	20230412	A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution through the rarely heard stories of those who lived through Mao's decade of madness. Mao's 1966 Cultural Revolution heralded a decade of hysteria, violence and relentless persecution. Teenagers were turned against adults, even parents. Party officials, artists, teachers and intellectuals were publicly humiliated, beaten and even murdered after vicious 'struggle sessions'. Yet China's bloodiest decade is now barely mentioned, and both victims and perpetrators still live with this unspoken trauma. Now, after forty years of silence, Tania Branigan hears their stories. Today: a widower continues to fight for an apology for the brutal murder of his wife by her students. Writer: Tania Branigan is the Guardian's foreign leader writer, and was the Guardian's China correspondent for seven years. Reader: Chipo Chung is an acclaimed screen and stage actor and activist of Zimbabwean/Chinese descent. Producer: Justiine Willett Abridger: Katrin Williams A haunting exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan. A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan.
04	'we Were All Idealistic.'	20230413	A hauntingly powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution through the stories of those who lived through Mao's decade of madness. Mao's 1966 Cultural Revolution heralded a decade of hysteria, violence and relentless persecution. Teenagers were turned against adults, even parents. Party officials, artists, teachers and intellectuals were publicly humiliated, beaten and even murdered after vicious 'struggle sessions'. Yet China's bloodiest decade is now barely mentioned, and both victims and perpetrators still live with this unspoken trauma. Now, after forty years of silence, Tania Branigan hears their stories. Today: a group of former 'Educated Youth' workers mourn the lost years of their youths spent in hardship and suffering out in the Chinese countryside. Writer: Tania Branigan is the Guardian's foreign leader writer, and was the Guardian's China correspondent for seven years. Reader: Chipo Chung Producer: Justiine Willett Abridger: Katrin Williams A hauntingly powerful account of the Cultural Revolution by the Guardian's Tania Branigan. A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan.
05	Echoes Of The Cultural Revolution	20230414	A hauntingly powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution through the stories of those who lived through Mao's decade of madness. Mao's 1966 Cultural Revolution heralded a decade of hysteria, violence and relentless persecution. Teenagers were turned against adults, even parents. Party officials, artists, teachers and intellectuals were publicly humiliated, beaten and even murdered after vicious 'struggle sessions'. Yet China's bloodiest decade is now barely mentioned, and both victims and perpetrators still live with this unspoken trauma. Now, after forty years of silence, Tania Branigan hears their stories. In today's final episode: Mao impersonators, kitsch Cultural Revolution restaurants and student 'struggle sessions', as China struggles to make sense of its traumatic past... Writer: Tania Branigan is the Guardian's foreign leader writer, and was the Guardian's China correspondent for seven years. Reader: Chipo Chung Producer: Justiine Willett Abridger: Katrin Williams The final part of Tania Branigan's haunting exploration of China's Cultural Revolution. A powerful exploration of China's Cultural Revolution from the Guardian's Tania Branigan.