Ep 15. Looking for Mao

Looking for Mao is the 15th episode of the first season of the documentary series Frontline. This episode explores the attempts of a group of Chinese activists to search for the remains of their beloved leader, Mao Zedong, who died in 1976. The show highlights the cultural and political significance of Mao in China and how his legacy is still reverberating through the country's present-day reality.

The episode begins by showing a small group of Mao's admirers who had gathered in Beijing on the 30th anniversary of his death to pay their respects to the revered icon of communism. The group, which includes several elderly Chinese citizens, had been holding a vigil at Mao's mausoleum since the early morning. They shared anecdotes of how Mao had personally touched their lives and how much they admired him. One of them, a middle-aged woman, expressed her deep sorrow that she could not see Mao's face once again as she had been banned from visiting his mausoleum due to her participation in the protests at Tiananmen Square in 1989.

The show then shifts its focus to a group of activists who are determined to locate Mao's remains, which they believe were secretly cremated by the Chinese authorities. The activists, who range from professors to farmers, come from different parts of China and have formed a loose coalition to pursue their quest. They have spent years collecting information from government archives, interviewing eyewitnesses, and comparing notes to piece together Mao's final days and the whereabouts of his ashes.

The documentary takes us on a journey with the activists as they travel to different parts of China, including Mao's hometown in Hunan province, to follow up on leads and collect evidence. Along the way, we get to see the landscape of China, both rural and urban, and get to know some of its people. We see how economic changes and urbanization have transformed the countryside and how younger generations are more interested in material pursuits than in revolutionary ideals.

At the same time, the documentary sheds light on how Mao is still a potent symbol of power and authority in China, despite his many flaws and disastrous policies. It shows how his image is still ubiquitous in public spaces, from giant billboards to red memorials. We also see how Mao's legacy has been appropriated by different groups, from the capitalist elites to the Maoist purists, to legitimize their own agendas.

The most gripping part of the episode is when the activists gather at a secret location to unveil what they claim is Mao's last will and testament. The document, which they say they obtained from a former security guard who worked in Mao's villa, reveals Mao's true views on some of his closest allies and enemies. It also sheds light on his state of mind during his final days and the role of his wife, Jiang Qing, in his downfall.

However, the authenticity of the document is highly contested, and the activists admit that they cannot verify its origins. Nonetheless, the show illustrates how Mao continues to fascinate and intrigue both inside and outside China, and how his life and death remain shrouded in mystery and myth.

Overall, Looking for Mao is a fascinating episode that provides a rare glimpse into the cultural and political landscape of China. The documentary is informative, poignant, and thought-provoking, and it invites us to reflect on the complex legacy of one of the most enigmatic figures of the 20th century.