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