The Tank Man

The Tank Man recounts the iconic moment when an unidentified Chinese man stood in front of a column of tanks on June 5, 1989, one day after the Chinese army’s violent suppression of the Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing. This powerful act of defiance, captured on film by Western journalists, became a symbol of the struggle for freedom worldwide.

The documentary traces the events leading up to this historic confrontation, beginning with the student protests that started in Tiananmen Square and spread throughout China. It describes how Beijing citizens poured into the streets to support the students when the government sent in the army to end the demonstrations. The film provides eyewitness accounts of the massacre that occurred on the night of June 3–4, when troops were ordered to clear Tiananmen Square.

Filmmaker Antony Thomas investigates the identity and fate of the ‘Tank Man’ while exploring the implications of his act for modern China. The documentary features interviews with China observers and scholars who discuss the turning point represented by the 1989 unrest. It highlights how China’s rapid economic growth has benefited the educated elite who led the protests, while many workers continue to face harsh conditions. It also examines the Chinese government’s efforts to erase the Tank Man’s image from public memory, demonstrating how the regime has censored information about the event. Thomas shows the iconic photograph to Peking University students, none of whom recognise it, illustrating the effectiveness of the government’s control over information.