In most works of art, tone, costume, and setting can greatly influence the mood of the story. A thorough examination of the mentioned attributes can possibly reveal the artists' latent messages and intentions. This is evident in both Lao She's Teahouse and The Founding of a Republic in China. The Founding of a Republic was funded and produced by the Chinese government as a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China; as a result, it is widely considered propaganda. Lao's Teahouse, however, was written about the Chinese revolution from the point of view of a common man. These differences in interpretation of the Chinese Revolution, along with the intent of the presentations, reveal the underlying political messages of the creators. When the Chinese government published The Founding of a Republic in 2009, it was dismissed, often prematurely, as communist. propaganda. Although the distorted interpretations of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are quite explicit throughout the film, the historical events shown are accurate. However, the events described are primarily evil acts of the nationalists, ignoring many of the equally heinous acts of the communists. An example would be the assassination of 13 communist party members. While this educates the audience about some of the tragic events of the Chinese Civil War, the communists are clearly depicted as virtuous heroes. The introduction of characters in The Founding of a Republic gives another look at the government's hidden messages. Nationalists are often referred to with a negative connotation. Officers are shown wearing black or very dark clothing and are commonly surrounded by armed soldiers. The KMT scene...... middle of paper ...... and also girls for money and to invoke fear (63). The government also seized virtually any property it wanted, claiming it was “the property of the traitor” (74). Evidently the Tea House paints a much darker picture of the Chinese Revolution. It offers the common man's perspective on the economic decline and rise of corruption that sometimes go unnoticed in the eyes of elites. The Founding of a Republic told a very different vision of the reform movement from the eyes of the communist elite. The chosen depiction of a benevolent CCP and an evil KMT is largely biased, although most of the events are historically accurate. The film can be classified as Chinese communist propaganda, but a deeper meaning can also be observed. Examining and comparing both the artworks and their take on the revolution can offer good insight into the creators' intent and political message.