Evenings With Ai Weiwei - One Recluse

The University of Washington presents a screening of One Recluse by Ai Weiwei.

The East Asia Center of the University of Washington, in conjunction with the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, is proud to present a series of five rare films by acclaimed artist Ai Weiwei. Known for his work designing the Birds Nest stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and lately his political activism, Ai Weiwei is China’s best known artist, working in media such as architectural design, film, photography, and performance. These five films are rare, and are being shown for only the second time in the United States.

In June 2008, Yang Jia carried a knife, a hammer, a gas mask, pepper spray, gloves, and Molotov cocktails to the Zhabei Public Security Branch Bureau and killed six officers, injuring another and a guard. He was arrested on the scene and subsequently charged with intentional homicide. In the following six months, while Yang Jia was detained and trials were being held, his mother mysteriously disappeared. Ai Weiwei traces the reasons and motivations behind the tragedy and investigates a trial process filled with shady cover-ups and questionable decisions. The film provides a glimpse into the realities of a government-controlled judicial system and its impact on the lives of citizens. 123 min.