Marriage (1999) & Old Yang Seeking Wife (2003)

Marriage (1999) & Old Yang Seeking Wife (2003)

Tuesday, October 5, 2004 - 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Auditorium (Room 101), Henry R. Luce Hall See map
34 Hillhouse Avenue
New Haven, CT 6511

Free and open to the public. All films have English subtitles.

Marriage
Directed by Liang Bibo, 1999 (80 min)

In a village in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi Province, marriage is still a matter carried out in a very traditional manner following the so-called “six procedures.” This film captures the story of two couples going through the marriage process over the period of nearly a year, from the first proposal to the actual wedding. The matchmaker stands out as an indispensable character throughout the nuptial process.

Old Yang Seeking Wife
Directed by Jiang Ning, Camera: Li Lie, 2003 (76 min)

By the end of 2001, the number of senior citizens in Shanghai had exceeded 2.466 million, amounting to 18.58% of the total population, of which 980,000 were single. Statistics show that over 20% of single seniors had the will to seek a companion. According to one Chinese saying, young couples should accompany each other to old age. Unfortunately, not everyone shares this luck and for the aging population in China, loneliness is an ever-growing concern. This story follows a group of senior citizens in Shanghai. The protagonist of the story, Old Yang, is an ordinary elderly man who is suffering from an extreme sense of loneliness. This documentary film recounts Old Yang’s story in seeking a wife and depicts the reality of getting old in urban China. The story provides insights into the lives of senior citizens in China and their attitudes towards wedlock at old age.

China Documentary Film Series – Showcasing films from REC Foundation’s REEL CHINA Documentary Festival 2004

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