My Village in 2007 (Shao Yuzhen)
Shao Yuzhen | 2008 | 70 min. | English subtitles
About the Film:
This film records some of the changes that occurred in my village in 2007. I record the villagers hard at work, cultural events, folk customs, marriage and burial ceremonies, the annual land contracts, events sponsored by the village committee and the election that happens every four years. I also filmed my family’s life. This is the third year I’ve been documenting my village with a video camera and I want to continue. But I’m sensitive to my family’s feelings about it. My filming has attracted attention from various media outlets: Shunyi Television Station, Beijing Broadcasting Station, Jingjiao Daily News, Beijing Television Station, and Xinhua News Agency. In 2007, they all came to my house to interview me and my family. Each time, my camera was ready to film them back. It’s like the Chinese saying, “You must give back what is due.” In this film you will see them getting a taste of their own medicine.
Filmmaker’s Words:
I’m a housewife and I’m almost 60 years old. I only have a junior high school education. In 2005, I became one of ten people chosen to participate in the Villager Documentary Project and was fortunate to meet Mr. Wu and Caochangdi Workstation. Before then, I didn’t know what a documentary film was. Thank to their supervision, I completed my short documentary I Film My Village and two long documentaries, My Village in 2006 and My Village in 2007. I am no longer just a crop planting, child-rearing machine. Now I can use a video camera, edit footage on a computer, send and receive emails on the internet. It’s like I’ve taken flight. I’ve become fascinated with documentary filmmaking but my circumstances only allow me to film my village. The people in front of my lens are of low social standing but they form the foundation of our society. I am one of them. As I film my village I film what my heart desires. Heaven permitting, I will make My Village in 2008, in 2009, in 2010… After many years have passed these films will constitute a video archive of my village. When I leave this world I will have no regrets because I will have left a mark.
About the Filmmaker:
Shao Yuzhen was born in 1950. She has spent her life in her home village of Shaziying, located in Beijing’s Shunyi District. Her work in documentary began in 2005 when she was selected as one of ten participants in the China Villager Documentary Project. She was awarded a video camera and has been documenting her life and her village ever since. Her films include, I Film My Village, My Village in 2006, My Village 2007, My Village 2008, My Village 2009.
| Information | |
| Online Viewing | Yes |
| Available Subtitle | English, Chinese |
| Length | 60 mins |
| Production Year | 2008 |
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| FORMATS | PRICE | REMARKS |
|---|---|---|
| DVD (Colleges, Universities, Institutions) | $300 | |
| Video on Demand (Home) | $19.99 | Monthly subscription to watch(more than 30 documentaries,unlimited online viewing within 30 days from purchase date) |
| $5 | Watch one filmValid for 48 hours |