User reviews

Don't let the theme turn you off , this film needs to be re-evaluated and remastered. I reckon the best way to introduce this epic to a Western audience is in a double bill with Triumph Of The Will. Although quite different in style there are plenty of thematic similarities , though I do prefer the eye popping Technicolor of Red Detachment to the grim paganism of Triumph. I would recommend Red Detachment to those who like 60's eurocinema. The starting scenes of the movie reminded me of a Mario Bava film. Definitely the film is ripe for rediscovery.

This film was a huge hit in mainland China and is now considered as a classic. Back in 1960s, war films made in mainland China rarely depicts personal feelings of heros. A war hero can only be devoted to his ideology, fearless, without personal feelings. Love life doesn't exist for him. Unfortunately, Hong Se Niang Zi Jun (1961) wasn't able to make exception in this regard. In a recent interview, the director Xie Jin confessed with regret that some scenes depicting the love feelings between Wu Qionghua and Hong Changqing were deleted. Actually, Wu Qionghua and Hong Changqing fell in love with each other in the original script. But after it was filmed, the director Xie Jin, under the pressure from some political leaders, had to delete all scenes that show the their love feelings. The second half of this film was thus re-edited and became "unbearable to watch" according to the director. But if you pay enough attention to the eyes of Wu Qionghua and Hong Changqing, you still can catch some moments where they express their love to each other.