This article appears in media partnership with the Sino-German cultural network -cn.net . Martina Bölck reports of filmmakers and the diversity of the independent scene in China. one day received the Kiel Independent filmmakers Karsten Weber an email from China. It came from Kun Ni (倪 昆), a young curator of the independent film scene, he invited Weber and his group of movie chaos to China. In 2006, she moved as a flash movie for the first time with a colorful mixture of German films by universities and festivals. More tours followed. The German filmmaker, who had nothing to do until then
with China, were surprised by the diversity of the independent scene, from the interest of the public and the open spaces outside of government censorship. Your China Image wavered. This experience was about to give Weber. He invited Kun Ni u
nd some filmmakers a return visit. In Hamburg, the festival China Underground - The critical view from the bottom of 16 to 19 September as part of China Time to see 2010th Other stops are Kiel, Husum and Heidelberg. "China is not monolithic," Weber pointed out. "What we learn in the media like this is only a small part." He wants to show things, "do not fit into this picture. The program is diverse: movies, documentaries, short films, television documentaries and a classic from 1961 as a gimmick, the red army wife, alienated by live electronic music. The central theme of the festival is to show Chinese productions, reflecting the interaction between underground and official media and government policy.
interaction between media and society
are also Chinese state media - for economic reasons - to find new themes. Some broadcasters lay press cameras in hand, they migrate through the city in search of sensations, which they can later use to sell the station. The opening film of Disorder Huang Weikai (黄伟凯) shows a montage of these amateur films. We see car accidents, flooded streets, arresting criminals, cockroaches in restaurants ... Several police officers are trying to get the Chaos Lord, but you do not have the Impression that they succeed.
although there is state censorship authority replied that the film-maker Bang Wang (王 梆) on the question of censorship, but many independent films there would not even submitted. Even films that fell through the censorship could be shown at independent festivals and universities. She has ventured with University City Savages on a sensitive issue: The film documents the struggle of peasants against the compulsory purchase and demolition of their village, which will give way to a college campus. may have
What influence the media to such stories, the film The Nail of Jiang Zhi (蒋志): In downtown Chongqing, a couple fights against the demolition of his house without adequate compensation. The image of the house, isolated in the middle of a pit, go through the media, the homeowners become stars and get as much response from the public that the construction company must give in eventually.
Other films depict stories behind the news: To Live is Better Than to Die by Chen Weijun (陈 为 军) was shot in a village where many residents who wanted to make blood donations a little money contracted the disease through poor hygiene measures with HIV. The film follows a family in which up to the oldest daughter are all infected. The mother is already ill, they died while still the shooting. The father takes good care of the three small children and trying to get up everyday life. You can see his joy at the first steps of the little boy, knowing that this will hardly reach the fourth year.
After the earthquake in May 2008 in Sichuan were made serious allegations against cadres who are said to have saved on construction materials for schools, thereby causing the deaths of thousands of children. The film of Mayday Zhandong Ma (马 占 冬) shows a couple who lost his only son in the collapse of a school. By the way one learns a lot about what a tremendous talent for improvisation with people after a disaster to their everyday rebuild.
China images between multiculturalism and social Tristesse
Au
s is the frame of the movie The Rat Trap and the Rose of Bang Wang (王 梆). In still images, they can arriviertes a French couple with marital problems, her Chinese maid who dreams of a life in the U.S., and take an illegal immigrant from Congo to each other. A new multicultural China in which foreigners are not automatically rich. Weber wants to show how critical and open in China nowadays movies are made, "what bright and courageous people are there." He has a constant feeling explain and justify the need. "Some people respond really upset when they take their image of China."
And yet, not so new, the image conveyed by the most movies. It is a China in transition, with a difficult past and social problems, desolate, with high-rise buildings, highway bridges and uprooted people. Pictures of the dull city life and the losers of the recovery came at the beginning of the zero years in the German cinema, as a new generation of directors that took the festival abroad.
"Why do you show so many negative things about China," asks a Chinese woman from the audience. "Because they are true," responds Kun Ni (倪 昆). "There are positive things that are true," she added.
the end, one has the impression that in China there is an interesting counter-culture. But China, which they say is not exactly welcoming. Underground is just not a holiday company.
"You must not forget," says Ma Zhandong (马占 冬) "that the movies you see here represent only a small part of reality. If you want to really get to know China, you should go there. "
flash movie is in any case in November again will travel to China, with many new films luggage to Germany's image the Chinese to mess up.
Text: Martina Bölck
author, Hamburg
October 2010
Related Links author, Hamburg
October 2010
website BLITZ FILM
The original
image sources:
cut poster "China Underground" © flash movie
in the foyer of the cinema: From left to right: Cheng Le (陈 乐), Karsten Weber, Martina Stache, Sun Xiao Yun (孙晓筠), Hu Qing (胡 晴), Ma Zhandong (马占 冬), Ni Kun (倪 昆), photo: Martina Bölck
poster " China Underground "© flash movie
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