Film: Back to 1942 | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Leo Café
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Family Events
    • Leo Bar Happy Hour
    • Past Events
    • Event Recaps
    • Space Rental
  • Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Touring Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Support
    • Membership
    • Become a Patron
    • Corporate Support
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
  • About
    • About Asia Society
    • Our People
    • Careers
    • Interns and Volunteers
    • Contact Us
  • Blog
    • All Posts
    • Event Recaps
  • Video
    • All New York Videos
    • Arts
    • Current Affairs
    • Education
    • Policy
  • Space Rental
  • Shop
New York
Search
New York
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Leo Café
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Family Events
    • Leo Bar Happy Hour
    • Past Events
    • Event Recaps
    • Space Rental
  • Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Touring Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Support
    • Membership
    • Become a Patron
    • Corporate Support
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
  • About
    • About Asia Society
    • Our People
    • Careers
    • Interns and Volunteers
    • Contact Us
  • Blog
    • All Posts
    • Event Recaps
  • Video
    • All New York Videos
    • Arts
    • Current Affairs
    • Education
    • Policy
  • Space Rental
  • Shop

Breadcrumb

  • New York
  • Film: Back to 1942

Film: Back to 1942

VIEW EVENT DETAILS  

Dir. Feng Xiaogang. 2012. China. 151 min. DCP.
In Chinese with English subtitles.

In 1942, Henan province was devastated by one of the most tragic famines in modern Chinese history, resulting in the deaths of at least three million people and tens of millions of refugees. Although the primary cause of the famine was a severe drought, it was exacerbated by locusts, windstorms, earthquakes, disease, and the corruption and incompetence of the Nationalist party who had imposed harsh taxes and seized grain to feed the army.

Based on a novel by Liu Zhenyun, Back to 1942 is a powerful and moving historical epic film, based on eyewitness accounts of Pulitzer Prize-winning Time Magazine journalist Theodore H. White (Adrien Brody). White's scathing report on the extent of the famine embarrassed Chiang Kai-shek (Chen Daoming). As the story unfolds, the Chinese government must decide who is fed: their troops or their people.

A Q&A with novelist Liu Zhenyun follows the screening.

Liu Zhenyun is a frequent collaborator with acclaimed film director Feng Xiaogang, who has put many of Liu's novels on to the screen. Back to 1942, however, is a unique project that took them and their team 19 years to complete. Liu is a famous Chinese writer with many of his novels adapted into TV dramas or films, such as One Sentence Worth Ten Thousand, Chicken Feathers Everywhere, to name just a few.

RSVP is required for this free screening, email at mzhao@asiasociety.org

 

Event Details

Fri 29 May 2015
6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
725 Park Avenue, New York, NY
Click for directions
Register Now
Free admission. Advance registration required.
  • Upcoming Events
  • Family Events
  • Leo Bar Happy Hour
  • Past Events
  • Event Recaps
  • Space Rental
About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Seattle
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, D.C.
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Education
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
. Asia Society Twitter Account . Asia Society Instagram Account . Asia Society Facebook Account . Asia Society LinkedIn Account . Asia Society YouTube Account
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2023 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Seattle
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC