2011 | 69 min | China, United States
Filmmaker in Person | U.S. Premiere
The father of two, Luo originally became a coal miner to pay off the fine for violating China’s One Child Policy. Young Hui, son of another miner, prefers to be coal-train driver than take work far from home. For many families, coal mining has become a principal source of income and the only alternative to factory jobs in distant cities. But the mines are notoriously dangerous and, every year, claim an estimated 5,000 lives. Taking his camera deep underground, Yuanchen Liu exposes the perils faced by these miners, the slim rewards, and dire consequences when things go wrong. In spite of the risks, the working poor continue to flock to the mines, unable to heed the warning that earning a living wage may also mean dying for it.
Co-presented by Asia Society
Preceded by
Myron Lameman
2011 | 15 min | Canada | U.S. Premiere
A son of the Beaver Lake Cree Nation crafts a quiet plea to save his people’s territory, which is threatened by tar sands oil extraction.
