Director Vincent Lan returns to his hometown Chengdu and reflects on the past years.
Social & External
The people behind it
Seedlings protection rite (also called the parade of big rice dumplings) is a spring agricultural festival of Hakka people in Western Fujian, China. People worship the God of Grains (Shennong) in the rite. People collect thousands of fresh bamboo leaves, sew them together and make a pair of big dumplings filled with 120 kilograms of rice each. They also make tens of thousands of finger-sized rice dumplings for believers to take home. On the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month, villagers carry out the statues of the God of grains and big dumplings. Followed by flowers cars, eight sheds carry children chosen from every clan name in the village who are dressed up as ancient heroes, as people parade around the village. After the rite, villagers believe that farmland is awakened and that disasters are averted. A new agricultural cycle begins.
The arrogant Hua Pozi, the first-time brother who is full of joy. Even the seemingly greasy, exaggerated, and gaudy drum art seems to be unrelenting in the villages and villages.
In the sound of rice huller, the rice falls to the jar; and in the booming sound of thunder, the rain drops falldown on the ground. Witha shovel on shoulder, we're farming under the sky. -- This is a children's folk rhymes used to be very popular among the Hakka people lived in the westernpart of Fujian Province, China. While farming is not an easy work, rice hulling is an even more laborious work. Rice-huller is a tool used by the peasants in southern China to hull the rice for thousands of years in theirfarming history. This documentary films the making of probably the last rice-huller ever made by mankind.
Record the entangled experience for changing the genealogy. Record the experience for engraving movable type, hand-printed.
As a kind of traditional handmade paper in the area of Ninghua in western Fujian Province, Yukou paper is named after its soft and delicate quality as well as white and jade-like color. It is the best of handmade papers and needs to go through several complicated and elaborate processes. In a small village deep in the Wuyi Mountains, Xikeng, there were once more than five hundred paper mills, but now only one remains, still struggling to survive. The film crew focused their camera on the paper maker Hu Lanshan's family, quietly recording the process of making Yukou paper, the joys and sorrows of the paper maker’s family, and the changes of the whole era...
The "Wugong sutra" is also known as "Transfer to the Sky". A prophecy written by the people since the Five Dynasties Northern Song Dynasty is said to be the proverb of the Tiangongshan Zhigong, Huagong, Yigong, Tanggong and Baogong Wugong Bodhisattvas. The salvation people were robbed at the end, often used by rural secret social organizations, and also banned by the imperial court rulers. The belief in the "Five Annals" in the rural society of northwestern Yunnan has abandoned the function of politics, and only pays attention to the practical effect of the Wugong sutra curse on treating and saving people and protecting one side. This film is a field survey of the Wugong sutra as a folk belief in rural society in northwestern Yunnan.
Geomancy is to say hinding winds to gain water. The earth is mother , burial brings peace to the deceased, symbolizing reincarnation. So the name of this story in English is “Revive”, which means getting into the cycle of reincarnation. The documentary is going to tell a story contains several elements such as Geomancy of compass, Hakka funeral and interment culture, General om teach, Seance. Moreover, it also porse deeply on the floating life with fleeting time- the sanguine life of a wise man in countryside. This is an old man whose life is full of hardships, he possesses real learning and stories, owns peace after overcoming severe difficulties, and has the special graciousness as being in such an age…
In the mountains of western Fujian, mushrooms emerge in large numbers after rain. Hakka people pick mushrooms up the mountain with baskets at three or four o 'clock in the morning. The process of picking mushrooms is also the process of harvest.
Xilin Gol grassland in Inner-Mongolia is one of few natural grasslands with high-quality pasture in China. When a rich coalfield is discovered under the ground of this beautifully natural scene, the nomadic herdsmen reluctantly migrate into the cities and wave farewell to their grassland. The water levels lower, plants die, and only sandstorms remain on the prairie.
A Jian, Zhang Chiand Gou Zi took the train from Beijing to Tongliao. They made a promise that no one could speak during the trip, and who broke the rules should be punished. But it's still necessary to pick up some phone call, ask the way after you get off the train...For educated decadents, life is as if always in a state of intoxication, without goal or objective.
The artist works around the different individual experiences which consolidates the different changes in the body while examines intimate relationships under the structure of the disease, all by making her experience visible and public. Within the realms of Ruijing’s discussions, she hopes for the work to push the boundaries of the marginality of the body, for the work to allow oneself to look at their and others’ body in an objective manner that escapes the ontological. She further wished for the experience of living and the reflection on the mass would help the discovery of the self and its connection with society, while reflecting on life itself by doing so.
The old man who has no dreams, forgets the dream of the dream, said that the dream of being educated, the child who is chasing dreams in the streets, can we really have a dream? In front of the new crisis that has aroused the new crown virus, I came to Yunnan with a camera, I hope I can reactivate my movie and a few musician friends who have already realized it is facing new challenges. In Kunming City, a child of a roadside stall, every day, like a beast is usually playing in the road of the car, only six years old, he has not started to go to school, and his parents did not take care of him. . And when they said their dreams, the dream of teaching with strong people, and it is incorporated with this. The dream of spiritual medicine may not exist at all, but it is really a tragedy, and the tragedy is staged daily.
I came to the "90 km-long traffic jam, road transport of coal (news)," the Shenmu and Fugu, Coal makes this town less than one million people among the Chinese economy in the forefront. And arrived here three days later, Pass me a tramp pointing to the front for me, "in front of you can find a dream." I gave up being shocked shoot spectacular traffic jam events. I start shooting those who rub shoulders with Seoul before, Children, adolescents, youth, middle-aged, elderly. We talked about the harsh reality of the real Titanic, We are also talking about the illusory ideals, My ideal also quietly began to grow from here.
A Muslim living in a non-Muslim region of China. It attempts to explore the relationship between ethnic, cultural background and survive.
These are conversations I had with four football partners respectively on the way to the football field,on the way back from the football field,on the way to class,on the way to the bar. The content revolves around freedom,love, meanings of life and so on, which is mainly about their views on the life situation of themselves.
Following the mother of martyrs Pro-Ukraine, Qingwen who missed her lost son Guo Zhenggao and accuse the brutal of the war that takes up so many life.
This film cross-cut the "Odessa Steps" chapter from the famous war movie "Battleship Potemkin" (1925) and the actual footage of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict in 2022. It uses a 21st-century "Montage d'Attraction" to explore The circle of history, the contradictions of civilization, and the crisis of life.
The documentary "The Garden" focuses on the "old city renovation" project of BaDaHu Residential area in Qingdao. After the film was released online, the renovation project of this residential area became the only illegal demolition activity that was stopped in China in 2010. A special report by China Central Television revealed that this project was demolished and built without government approval by impostor, fictitious official letter.
In the Chinese New Year of 2017, Solar and I went together to visit David Zhang who was practicing kung fu on Wudang Mountain. As the three of us interacted, we observed and looked after each other. We also filmed each other to document and reconstruct this experience of listening to each other and growing up.
A silent film by Vietnamese director Truong Minh Quy in collaboration with Belgian director Nicolas Graux, was shot on the set of a film by Graux. We Sit in Silence at the Memorial Table is inspired by Educational Objectives, a poem written by Aleksey Garipov and translated to English by Nicolas Graux.
In an intimate and joyful story of love in the face of loss, celebrated poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley find strength—and unexpected hilarity—in what might be their final year together.
Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.
After another 7 year wait, director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born children from Seven Up! and 7 Plus Seven. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.
This revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier—iconic actor, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. Featuring interviews with Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Halle Berry, and more.
Alexander McQueen's rags-to-riches story is a modern-day fairy tale, laced with the gothic. Mirroring the savage beauty, boldness and vivacity of his design, this documentary is an intimate revelation of McQueen's own world, both tortured and inspired, which celebrates a radical and mesmerizing genius of profound influence.
From a prolific career in film and television, Anton Yelchin left an indelible legacy as an actor. Through his journals and other writings, his photography, the original music he wrote, and interviews with his family, friends, and colleagues, this film looks not just at Anton's impressive career, but at a broader portrait of the man.
Just two years away from turning 30, participants in Michael Apted's documentary series are facing serious questions of identity and purpose, wondering whether they've found their place in the world.
In a crime-plagued neighborhood near Miami, brutal, bare-knuckled backyard fights give young men a chance to earn money -- and self-respect.
Over 35 years after Bob Lazar's revelations, this documentary exposes secrets of a facility the government still denies. Featuring Lazar's testimony, recreations, and new evidence, it reopens a case that continues to spark global curiosity
Through deeply personal interviews with her siblings and an examination of the photographs, letters, and belongings left behind, Mariska assembles a new portrait of her mother Jayne Mansfield, an extraordinary and complex woman.
Those who knew iconic funnyman John Candy best share his story, in their own words, through never-before-seen archival footage, imagery, and interviews.
The life and career of an actor, artist, and icon. His own journey through his own camera.
Daniel Craig candidly reflects on his 15 year adventure as James Bond. Including never-before-seen archival footage from Casino Royale to the upcoming 25th film No Time To Die, Craig shares his personal memories in conversation with 007 producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
An inside look at the years of effort and craft that went into the final installment of the Duffer Brothers' generation-defining series.
RETURN tells the story of a retired Green Beret who embarks on a healing journey from Montana to Vietnam. There he retraces his steps, shares his wartime experiences with his son, treats his Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and seeks out the mountain tribespeople he once lived with and fought alongside as a Special Forces officer.
An interview with film director Roman Polanski conducted during his period of house arrest, discussing his life and work.
After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year journey into a new light.
In 1997, Louis Theroux made a documentary about the world of male porn performers in Los Angeles. 15 years later, he returns to find a business struggling with the deluge of free porn on the internet. Louis revisits some of the original programme's contributors as well as meeting the latest crop of porn performers dreaming of porn stardom.
An inside look at one of the most anticipated movie sequels ever with James Cameron and cast.