A new documentary on Deng Xiaoping will unveil firsthand historical materials while exploring the inner world of the late leader through storytelling.

At a recent news conference in Beijing, chief writer of the documentary Long Ping-ping said the 20-episode documentary, which will air on China Central Television, focuses on Deng's personal belongings, such as his clothes and letters, with the stories in each episode centered on the objects.

Long, an expert on Deng and his theories at the Party Literature Research Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is also the chief scriptwriter of a popular 48-episode TV series on the leader that is being aired at prime time on CCTV.

The documentary, with its title translated as "Stories about the Possessions of Deng Xiaoping", includes interviews with more than 100 historical witnesses as well as videos, photographs and firsthand accounts, according to Long.

"Some materials shown in this documentary have never been released before, and many of the stories are not well known," he says. "By telling the stories, we aspire to explore the inner world of Deng Xiaoping and fully show his spirit and charisma."

Long says Deng's family supported making the documentary.

Deng Xiaoping's daughter Deng Rong told Xinhua that the stories in the production are "fresh and lively".

"What we see in the documentary is an ordinary Deng Xiaoping in daily life instead of a noble national leader," she says.

"Unlike how he was on the political stage, my father was a quiet person in private. When we kids played around at home, he just quietly looked at us and smiled.

"He was not strict with the children and never scolded us. He respected and believed in us. He always let us make our own decisions in terms of our studies, careers and marriages."

Deng Rong says that she had never seen some of the videos and photographs in the documentary, including some foot-age and images of her father during the years of wars and the early years after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

"The best part of this documentary is that it will show the most original and truthful things to the audience, "she adds.

(China Daily USA 09/18/2014 page9)