Arrested Cinema : Chine

For the fourth year running, Cinéma du reel puts a spotlight on politically

committed documentary filmmakers around the world. After Syria, Iran and

Russia, our reflection this year turns to China. Is the filmmaker’s speech

free? Is it true that directors are censored or is it rather a question of

“measure” to keep? Is the field of sensitive subjects changing over time? China

does not keep documentary filmmakers from making movies, and sometimes even

problematic issues can be addressed. But how and where are their movies seen?

Are they seen at all? Two filmmakers with very different practices give us

their testimonies during this evening together, where we will try to look

beneath the surface: Zhao Liang will talk about his experience and show us

images from some of his films, including his next one; Hu Jie will join in this

reflection via a filmed interview made for Cinéma du réel.

ZHAO LIANG has directed several films analyzing political issues in

contemporary China, including Crime and Punishment, Golden Montgolfière at

Festival des 3 Continents 2007, and Petition, which was screened in the

official selection of Cannes film festival in 2009 and won many international

prizes.

It will be screened on Friday, March 27 at 4.30 pm at the Forum des images, as

part of the Ina documentary selection.

HU JIE served in the army and worked as a journalist before making

documentaries. He has investigated some of the dark episodes in Chinese history

with films such as Though I am Gone (2007) and The East Wind State Farm (2009).