China

The film director lived in the mountain village of Fotuoyan for more than a year to record the living condition, traditional customs, religious beliefs, as well as the impact of Socialist rural development of the peasants on the Loess Plateau in Northern Shaanxi. The film narrative develops in accordance with the four divinations: summer, autumn, population, and national affairs. The challenges facing the village are similar to that of other rural areas: Young people emigrate their homeland, and only the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled stay in the village. God seems to be the only source of comfort for these suffering souls at the edge of modern civilization.

For thousands of years, the Kucong tribe have lived in the primary rainforests of the Ailao Mountain and led primitive hunter-gatherer lifestyles. However, things changed in 1949 with the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China. A series of programmes were initiated to get the Kucong tribe to leave the forests and mountains, however, such initiatives did not go down well with the Kucong tribe. During the 50 years between 1958 and 2008, the Kucong tribe has been relocated from the forests five times; all five times, they escaped back to their homes in the forests. In 2008, the government decided to resettle the Kucong tribe for the sixth time—will they leave the forests this time?

It was 2005, the year of Chicken according to the Chinese calendar. A new life was born in a Naxi village named Dandu. Meanwhile, another life went to the end. Is it just the natural rhythm to see one life ends and another comes into being? Or is there some sort of destined connection between these two souls in the celestial world? This film is the first documentary that comprehensively records an old mysterious cremation and seeing-off-soul ceremony of the Naxi people.

Film records about life of Ashiq, the Uighur bard live in southern border area of Takla Makan Desert, in all its aspect. “Ashiq” means the zealot. Unlike traditional life of Sufi in Islam society, Ashiq who live in southern border area of Takla Makan Desert do different jobs for living except people go into seclusion to cultivate religious sense at Mazar (the grave of Uighur). For example some Ashiq are blacksmiths, other are beggar, merchant, grave-digger, barber, woman Ashiq, Sheykh (the Mazar protector) etc. However the way and contents they sing have remained same as traditional one through the same decent. They convey their earnest feeling to Allah and are doing penance for their sins through this way. This documentary film is a great epic covering whole aspect of Ashiq and moreover, includes a challenge of young generation of Ashiq in the present city.

De’Ang Minority genesis mythology think “the thor” and “excess”Created the heaven earth and people.
Water drum is Ancient echoes.
With the society’s huge change,
More people to pursue economic rich,
National culture only to the old man,
Water drum old man lee la doppler, seventy-nine years of age,
DeAng people in the village,
Will make water drum of people have less and less.