Happy Lunar New Year from the USC US-China Institute!
Wu Wenguang
Part of the Jack H. Skirball Screening Series - New Chinese Cinema: The Unofficial Stories of Tang Tang, Fourth Child, Little Moth and Others
Where
China, 2006, 170 min., MiniDV
International premiere
Vérité documentarist Wu waited a long time before releasing this pungent, yet moving, indictment of how cinema is affecting -- and sometimes destroying—the lives of ordinary people in China. A must-see!
It took real courage to famous documentarist Wu Wenguang to release this yet moving exploration of the cruel unbalance created by the booming film industry between the people in power and the perennial outsiders: a homeless peasant who tries to peddle his script about Beijing; young girls from the provinces auditioning for the part of a hooker; a seller of illegal DVDs chased by the police.
– Don’t you see Wu Wenguang is manipulating you, making you running all around town?
– It does not matter in whose hands I am now, I’m still a puppet.
– Your script is about crowd scene extras?
– Yes, it’s a true story about my life.
– So now you’re working as an extra for Wu Wenguang.
– Much better, I am the leading actor…
Preceded by
Jia Zhangke: Ten Years
China, 2007, 8 min., 35mm
Print courtesy of Cyberport and Digital Media Centre
Ten years after the retrocession of Hong Kong to China – a train ride from Taiyuan – a document or a staged metaphor?
Featured Articles
We note the passing of many prominent individuals who played some role in U.S.-China affairs, whether in politics, economics or in helping people in one place understand the other.
Events
Ying Zhu looks at new developments for Chinese and global streaming services.
David Zweig examines China's talent recruitment efforts, particularly towards those scientists and engineers who left China for further study. U.S. universities, labs and companies have long brought in talent from China. Are such people still welcome?