Sisyphus

The Epic Story of Resistance

 

Synopsis

Sisyphus is more than a documentary - it's a powerful tribute to the brave souls who fought against the tyrannical communist regimes of the 20th century. With each of its five 50-minute long episodes, it tells the story of those who dared to stand up to oppression, to fight for justice and freedom, and to make a difference.

The name of the documentary itself, drawn from the Greek myth of Sisyphus, embodies the never-ending struggle these heroes faced. Rolling a boulder up a hill, only to watch it come tumbling back down - it's a symbol of the setbacks and failures that were all too common, but that never stopped them from pushing forward.

The story of the resistance movement begins with the Bolshevik revolution of 1917, which sparked the first wave of anti-communist resistance. Over the next century, countless heroes emerged from the shadows, risking everything to challenge the most brutal regimes in human history. They were fighting against a system that claimed to represent the people, but in reality, stripped them of their dignity and freedom.

The resistance movement was born in the totalitarian inferno. Millions were murdered or imprisoned, but still, the heroes kept fighting. Some movements, such as Solidarity in Poland, were eventually successful, while others, like the Tiananmen Square protests, were brutally suppressed. But the heroes of the resistance movement never gave up, and their legacy continues to inspire generations.

The production team of Sisyphus conducted interviews with more than two dozen leaders of the resistance movement from the former Soviet Bloc and China, and through their personal stories, the documentary brings to life the incredible courage and resilience of those who fought against communism. The interviews give a human face to the struggle, making it impossible to ignore the sacrifices that were made in the pursuit of freedom.

Sisyphus is a tribute to those who dared to stand up to oppression, to fight for what they believed in, and to make a difference. While many films have been made about individual dissidents, Sisyphus is the first to tell the story of the resistance movement as a whole, crossing language and cultural barriers to provide a universal perspective on the struggle for freedom and democracy. With its powerful storytelling and captivating visuals, Sisyphus honors the heroism and sacrifice of those who fought for a better world.

About the Executive Producer

Dr. Sasha Gong

Scholar | Journalist | Author | Filmmaker | Human Rights Activist

Sasha Gong, a writer, scholar, journalist, and filmmaker, has led a remarkable life. Born in the People's Republic of China in 1956, Sasha faced adversity from a young age when her family was accused of being "counterrevolutionary" and sent to live in a poor village.

Sasha later did hard labor in a factory and became a part of an underground dissident group. For her activities, she was imprisoned for a year, but was later exonerated.

Despite the challenges, Sasha excelled academically, earning the highest score in Guangdong Province on the college entrance exam and going on to earn a BA and an MA in history from Peking University, as well as a Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University.

Sasha has since become a prominent political commentator and columnist, launching the Cantonese Service of Radio Free Asia and serving as a China expert for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

Sasha made history in 2011 when she became the first Asian-American and first (and the only) woman to hold the post of Director of the China Branch at Voice of America in 80 years. During her tenure, the VOA audience size in China grew exponentially, increasing from one million to 24.3 million in just three years under her leadership.

Sasha produced, directed, hosted, and wrote several influential documentary films, including Chinese POWs in Korea (2016), Trump and America's Political Earthquake (2016), and Sisyphus (2023).

Credits

Starring

Lech Walesa

Vytautas Landsbergis

Wei Jingsheng

Oleg Kalugin

Irena Lasota

Martin Palous

Wang Kang

Miklos Haraszti

Thomas Berty

Wang Juntao

Zygmunt Staszewaki

Liu Suli

Jiri Kabes

Presented by

TNI Research

Executive Producers

Sasha Gong

Keren Tang

Producers

Sasha Gong

Xiaozheng Zhou

Lawrence Walker

Bob Wang

Qingwen Mu

Associate producer

Robert Li

 

Music Composer and Director

Francis Snyder

 

Writer and Director

Sasha Gong

 

Director of Photography and Film Editor

Keren Tang

 

Script Editors

Michael J. Waller

 

Consultants

Ted Lipien

Michael Waller

Art Harman

Frank Gaffney

Matthew Tyrmand

Hong Liu

Huchen Zhang

 

Special Thanks to

Office of Vytautas Landsbergis, Former Head of State of Lithuania

The United States National Archives

Center for Security Policy

Probe International

Jehovah Witness