Movie Digest
A fascinating documentary was made regarding ‘poverty alleviation’ or relocation programmes in one rural area. The documentary focuses on a single small, impoverished community, Xiaohuaguo, whose residents have a notably low income, substandard housing, and restricted access to amenities (such as healthcare). To gain a cell reception, residents must climb up the several hills. In the hamlet, only the old and young remain, and numerous wives appear to have departed.
The Feel Good Part
This is a fairly accurate picture of how policies work in Shanxi province’s disadvantaged Kelan county (visited by Xi Jingping in 2017).
The Disappointing Factor
The documentary (which has the Dragon seal) was developed with the help of the local poverty alleviation unit, thus it is not directly critical of the policy. Conversations occasionally sound like this is what the speakers believe they should say. And the opening and ending scenes paint a rosy picture that isn’t necessarily reflected in the real-life scenes depicted throughout the film.
In-Depth Analysis
In Kelan County, Shanxi Province, where there are 91 poor villages, 4,580 poor households, and 10,181 poor people, the video captures actual stories from China’s poverty-alleviation drive. The local administration aims to move 115 natural communities as part of the broader deployment of poverty-stricken areas in Kelan County. Several very disadvantaged families’ tensions, challenges, and entanglements during their relocations and processes of rediscovering hope in their new lives are accurately and objectively documented in this film.
Star Power
Among the villagers is Jia Huanrong. He is now in his 50s and is caring for his elderly mother, who is 80 years old. They reside in one of the ‘cave’ houses that are prevalent in the area, which is in very poor condition. Many years ago, his wife left him. Huanrong struggles to finance his son’s tuition with his meagre farming income.
Overall Opinion
If you enjoy films based on true events, this is the film for you. It provides information on the situation and difficulties that can be easily related to real life.
