They Chose China

They Chose China

They Chose China
| 52 min
Free
streaming

Available options

DVD

In this feature documentary, Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Shuibo Wang (Sunrise Over Tiananmen Square) aims his camera at the astonishing story of 21 American soldiers who opted to stay in China after the Korean War ended in 1954. Back home in the United States, McCarthyism was at its height and many Americans believed these men were brainwashed by Chinese communists. But what really happened? Using never-before-seen footage from the Chinese camps and interviews with former PoWs and their families, They Chose China tells the fascinating stories of these forgotten American dissidents.

Pedagogical evaluations and study guides are only available to CAMPUS subscribers.

CAMPUS

Features designed specifically for teachers. Learn more

Already subscribed? Sign in

Embed this code on your site

They Chose China, Shui-Bo Wang, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

Video player width

by Reset
Credits
  • participation
    David Hawkins
    Della Adams
    Lin Adams
    Jessica Adams
    Richard Westbrook
    Bai Xirong
    Shaolei Veneris
    Shaoxia Veneris
    Lu Wenxin
    Cheng Shaokun
    Hao Zhanjun
    Li Honglin
    Liu Xuanzhen
    Lu Bin
    Pan Chongyuan
    Qian Meide
    Su Yunbao
    Wang Youfen
    Wu Dashou
    Wu Henian
    Wu Jun
    Xia Fangmin
    Zhou Shanqun
  • director
    Shui-Bo Wang
  • producer
    Claude Bonin
  • executive producer
    Éric Michel
    Paul Saadoun
  • associate producer
    Joanne Carrière
    Véronique Rabuteau
  • editor
    Ragnar Van Leyden
  • director of photography
    Sylvestre Guidi
  • production manager
    Jelena Popovic
    Li Pei
  • research
    Pascale Bilodeau
  • original music
    Peter Chase
  • narration - writer
    Shui-Bo Wang
    Donald McWilliams
  • narrator
    Shui-Bo Wang
  • stock shot research
    Pascale Bilodeau
    Elizabeth Klinck
    Tanya Fleet
  • archives off-line conform
    Valérie Précourt
    Guillaume Millet
  • translation
    Li Yu
  • subtitles
    Li Yu
    Kathleen Fee
  • interpreter
    Xiaodan He
  • sound engineer
    Zhang Yong
    Sylvain Vary
  • voice director
    Kathleen Fee
  • voice casting
    Kathleen Fee
  • voice recording
    Kathleen Fee
  • recording
    Geoffrey Mitchell
  • voice
    Joanna Noyes
    Kelly Ricard
    Luis de Cespedes
    Paul Stewart
  • sound editor
    Daniel Toussaint
  • re-recording
    Luc Léger
  • digital editing technician
    Ochelle Greenidge
    Carole Lalonde
    Martine Forget
  • image processing
    Pierre Landry
    Louise Overy
  • titles
    Gaspard Gaudreau
  • online editor
    Denis Pilon
    Françoise Laprise
  • post-production co-ordinator
    Jean-Pierre St-Michel
    Andrée Delagrave
  • administrator
    Maryse Chapdelaine
  • administrator - assistant
    Isabelle de Bellefeuille
    Nathalie Cloutier
  • project coordinator
    Brigitte Couture
  • production team
    Catherine Frebourg
    Clarisse Gatti
    Marie-Christine Gely
    Sandra Moella
    Malik Menaï
 See also
Foreign Countries
War, Conflict and Peace
Politics and Government
History
All subjects
Add a new comment
  • Errihapeti

    Engrossing and very moving. I had read a book, 22 Stayed by Virginia Pasley, written shortly after their decision to stay in China, and looked online to see what had become of them later. This film was a wonderful discovery and the story it tells is a fascinating contrast to the portrait painted of them by Ms. Pasley (even though I think she was probably quite progressive for that period).

    Errihapeti, 11 Feb 2013
  • Robespierre

    A fascinating documentary about a little known group of men who did what for most Americans at the time was unthinkable: defection to China. I highly recommend this film. The explorations of the men that are profiled are interesting because, among other things, we are given perspectives from family members as well.

    Robespierre, 6 Dec 2010

Related Films

More great films

Explore

The NFB is committed to respecting your privacy

We use cookies to ensure that our site works efficiently, as well as for advertising purposes.

If you do not wish to have your information used in this way, you can modify your browser settings before continuing your visit.

Learn more