Watching: The Daoxian Incident

Overview

The result of years of fieldwork and research, "The Daoxian Incident" examines the causes of armed struggle and mass killings in Dao County, Hunan, at the height of the Cultural Revolution. Between August 13 and October 17, 1967, 7,696 people were killed and 1,397 were forced to commit suicide. An additional 2,146 were permanently injured or disabled. Most of the victims were labeled “class enemies” and belonged to the so-called “Five Black Categories,” while at least 14,000 people participated in the killings. Through interviews with survivors, participants, and family members, this documentary reconstructs the complex sequence of political campaigns that culminated in one of the bloodiest episodes in the PRC's history.