The latest in a never-ending series of propaganda movies from mainland China, Manifesto is an account of the life and times of Chen Wangdao, the translator and scholar who completed in 1920 China's first translation of “The Communist Manifesto” by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Chen undertook this life-changing task when he returned from his studies in Japan. Chen Duxiu, Yu Xiusong, Shi Cuntong, Jing Hengyi, Dai Jitao and other key historical figures are also portrayed in the movie. (Sources: Douban and China Daily)
Director Hou Yong has worked on Zhang Yimou's movies, The Road Home (1999) and Hero (2002), in cinematography and the camera/electrical department. He was also a co-director for a 2021 drama series The Rebel Princess starring Zhang Ziyi. Manifesto‘s cast members include Liu Ye, Hu Jun and Janice Man. It has premiered in China on March 24, 2023.
