The Sun in Winter (2002) & The Secret Of My Success (2002)

The Sun in Winter (2002) & The Secret Of My Success (2002)

Tuesday, November 9, 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.

The Sun in Winter
Directed by Zhao Gang, 2002 (76 min)

By the end of 20th century, the political system in rural China was evolving towards “democratic” autonomy at the village level. This was after having undergone the countryside gentleman’s administration system, the baojia system, the local autonomy system, the people’s commune system, and the household contract responsibility system respectively over the past centuries and millennia. It was winter during the Year of the Tiger when the revised Villager’s Committee Organization Law was issued. Three thousand villagers of Dong Puo Village voluntarily elected village representatives to select the candidate for the Villager Committee. This film depicts a village in western China as a single case study, adopting the method of observing and recording events over a three year period. The film reflects the unique course of “democratic” autonomy that several hundreds of millions of Chinese farmers have encountered in the complex environment of rural politics, economy, and culture.

The Secret Of My Success
Directed by Duan Jingchuan, 2002 (73 min)

Mr. Lu Guohua is the managing official for the Family Planning and Birth Control Office in Fansheng Village whose major responsibility is to enforce the “one-child-policy.” This position is not easy and it often attracts hateful and vengeful acts from the villagers. Highly respected though, Lu has been in this position for fourteen years and has never run into any troubles other than the occasional fist fight. In 2001, Lu gets into trouble as a family member in his ward gives birth to a third child, thus violating the strict national and local regulations. Following the incident, his previously excellent relationship with the head of the village, Li Zhongqin, rapidly turns sour. That same year happens to be election year in Fansheng Village and a couple of tricks on the part of Lu, soon put an end to Li’s hopes for re-election for his fourth term in office.

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

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