The Folk Memory Project (FMP) is a multidisciplinary memory initiative launched in 2010 by filmmaker Wu Wenguang and choreographer Wen Hui at the Caochangdi Workstation (Beijing). Its main purpose is to produce textual and visual records of the historical experience of rural populations, especially during the Great Leap famine. This table presents the completed documentaries of the artists in residence participating in the FMP, as well as works of other filmmakers produced in the frame of this project. It also provides links to full-length written interviews transcripts of protagonists recorded during the shooting of these documentaries.
This filmography is the first attempt to provide a full list of films made within the project, and it has been compiled with the help of Caochangdi Workstation’s artists in residence.
Judith Pernin
| Filmmaker | Original title | International title | Year | Min. | Description | Related interviews on the Great famine: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/articlelist_2181292250_1_1.html |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wu Wenguang 吳文光 | Zhiliao 治療 | Treatment | 2010 | 80 | After his mother's death, Wu Wenguang decides to sort his personal and historical memories. | |
| Zhang Mengqi 章夢奇 | Zihuaxiang he san ge nüren 自畫像和三個女人 | Self-Portrait with Three Women | 2010 | 70 | Zhang Mengqi mixes stage performances and documentary sequences to reflect on her childhood as well her mother's and grandmother's youth. | |
| Zou Xueping 鄒雪平 | Ji'e de cunzi 飢餓的村子 | The Starving Village | 2010 | 76 | In this first return to her village in Shandong province, Zou Xueping starts to get accointed with elders who tell her about their past. | |
| Jia Nannan 賈楠楠 | Jia Fukui de dongtian 賈夫奎的冬天 | My Grandpa’s Winter | 2011 | 30 | Jia Nannan visits his isolated grandfather and films the way he copes during harsh winters. | The Great Leap Forward: Li Guotai, see http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0100yjmj.html |
| Li Xinmin 李新民 | Huidao Huamulin 回到花木林 | Back to Huamulin | 2011 | 75 | Li Xinmin's first return to her village in Yunnan province. Alongside interviews with some village elders, the film reveals the filmmaker's family and their views on her film project. | The Cultural Revolution: Luo Juying, see http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101j0yr.html; Tan Youqi, see http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101gvky.html; The Great Leap Forward: Long Qiugu http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101ja20.html; Zhou Jianying http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101j3pf.html; Ouyang Taogu http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101iv2j.html; Liu Xiangying http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101hn5x.html; Tan Youqi http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101gsm3.html |
| Luo Bing 羅兵 | Luojiawu: wo he Ren Dingqi 羅家屋：我和任定其 | Luo Village: I and Ren Dingqi | 2011 | 80 | In his home village in Hunan province, Luo Bing meets an intriguing neighbour, Ren Dingqi, who wrote a very long autobiography. | |
| Wen Hui 文慧 | Ting San Nainai jiang guoqu de shiqing 聽三奶奶講過去的事情 | Listening to Third Grandmother's Story | 2011 | 75 | In front of Wen Hui's camera, Su Meiling tells us about growing up in a well-off Yunnan family. | The Land Reform: Su Meiling http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101lub9.html et http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101lvk2.html, http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101lnrw.html, http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101lpbx.html, http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101lra6.html |
| Zhang Mengqi 章夢奇 | Zihuaxiang: 47 gongli 自畫像：47公裡 | Self-portrait: at 47 km | 2011 | 77 | In her first return to her father's native village in Hubei, Zhang Mengqi tries to bond with the inhabitants and starts colecting interviews about the Great famine. | The Great Leap Forward: Li Xintian http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101gwty.html; Zou Jinping http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101dog0.html; Li Yutian http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0100zhay.html |
| Zou Xueping 鄒雪平 | Chi bao de cunzi 吃飽的村子 | Satiated Village | 2011 | 88 | In this second installment, Zou Xueping shows her first documentary to the villagers and explores the array of reactions on this small community. | The Cultural revolution: Liu Bocheng, see http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101jas6.html; Tan Guizhen http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101il5m.html; Zhang Nianhe http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101i5x6.html; Jia Zhenwen http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101i35f.html; Tang Dongying http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101i2ls.html; The Great Leap Forward: Mo Defang http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101i6o8.html; The Great Leap Forward: Ou Renji http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101gqni.html; Li Yinzhen http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101bzd3.html; Wu Yumei http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101by30.html; Huang Meide http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101bst4.html; Wang Jisheng http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101a0qw.html; Jia Zhijie http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da01019sxh.html; Yang Guanya http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da01019n65.html; Li Yuanqin http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da01019n3j.html; Long Tianjian http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da01014lf2.html; Long Tianyuan http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da01014b89.html; Yang Guangyue http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da01010jfv.html; Yan Daru http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da01010jft.html; Xiao Kaihan http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da01010jfr.html |
| Jia Zhitan 賈之坦 | Yi da san fan zai baiyun “一打三反”在白雲 | Revolution in Baiyun Village | 2012 | 80 | Jia Zhitan investigates the One Strike-Three Anti campaign in his village. | |
| Li Xinmin 李新民 | Huamulin 2012 花木林 2012 | Huamulin 2012 | 2012 | 75 | The Cultural Revolution: Xu Qingming, see http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101j8kv.html | |
| Luo Bing 羅兵 | Luojiawu: tiandi wu qing 羅家屋：天地無情 | Luo Village: Pitiless Earth and Sky | 2012 | 75 | During Luo Bing's second return to his village, Ren Dingqi finally accepts to showhim his memoirs. | The Cultural Revolution: Chan Zailian, see http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101blg5.html; Xie Lide http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da01010z32.html; Luo Yunbi http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0100zn25.html; Shu Degao http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0100z36s.html (Land reform); The Great Leap Forward: Shu Qingyou http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101hosk.html; Shu Qingliang http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0100ysdn.html; The Land reform: Shu Qingyou http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101hksv.html |
| Shu Qiao 舒僑 | Shuangjing, wo shi ni de sunzi 雙井，我是你的孫子 | Shuangjing Village, I’m Your Grandson | 2012 | 78 | Shu Qiao takes his camera back to his Hunan village to find out about the local history. His grandfather helps him and introduces him to other key villagers. | The Great Leap Forward: Liu Xiude http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101bteu.html |
| Wang Hai'an 王海安 | Jingong Zhanggao cun 進攻張高村 | Attacking Zhanggao Village | 2012 | 86 | Wang Hai'an's first return to his home village in Shandong province, where he starts collecting villagers' memories. | The Cultural Revolution: Zhang Mingying, see http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101kpy7.html; Li Guiting, see http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101knh6.html; The Great Leap Forward: Li Guiting http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101kbn8.html; Four Clean-ups movement: Shu Jiaqing http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101eu6y.html; Li Guiting http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101kmrd.html; Ding Zuxin http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101kpjw.html; Land reform: Shu Jiaqing http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101it6v.html |
| Zhang Mengqi 章夢奇 | Zihuaxiang: 47 gongli tiaowu 自畫像：47公裡跳舞 | Self-portrait: Dancing at 47 KM | 2012 | 77 | Zhang Mengqi's efforts are starting to pay in this film, as she attracts more attention from villagers for her oral history project. | |
| Zou Xueping 鄒雪平 | Haizi de cunzi 孩子的村子 | Children’s Village | 2012 | 85 | Zou Xueping continues to interview old people in her village, this time with the help of local children. They start collecting names and money to erect a memorial for the victims of the famine. | The Cultural Revolution: Guo Xueliang, see http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101bo7r.html |
| Guo Rui 郭睿 | Yeye de jihuang 爺爺的飢荒 | Grandfather, great famine | 2013 | Guo Rui investigate on her Grandfather's past, interrogating other villagers about his role and his actions during the Great famine. | ||
| Hu Tao 胡濤 | Shan Ga La 山旮旯 | Old People and My Village | 2013 | 70 | The Great Leap forward: Tian Hongzhen http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101iyo0.html | |
| Jia Zhitan 賈之坦 | Wo yao dang renmin daibiao 我要當人民代表 | I Want to Be a People’s Representative | 2013 | 78 | The Great Leap Forward: Li Chunfang http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101hfvt.html; The Land Reform: Li Wenshuang http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101k9nq.html | |
| Li Xinmin 李新民 | Huamulin，xiaoqiang ah xiaoqiang 花木林，小強啊小強 | Huamulin, Boy Xiaoqiang | 2013 | 76 | In this film, Li Xinmin focuses on Xiaoqiang, a young boy, and continues to interview villagers about their memories. | The Cultural Revolution: Tan Duisheng, see http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101jq5q.html |
| Luo Bing 羅兵 | Luojiawu: yongbie luojiang qiao 羅家屋：永別落江橋 | Luojia Village: Farewell, Luojiang Bridge | 2013 | 73 | In this opus, Luo Bing focuses more on current issues affecting his village, especially the building of a road. | |
| Shu Qiao 舒僑 | Shuangjing, wo yao jia gei ni 雙井，我要嫁給你 | Shuangjing Village, I Want to Marry You | 2013 | 74 | A detailed account of family life during the famine forms the backbone of this film otherwise focusing on current rural life, and featuring an explosive final interview with an old couple and their son. | |
| Wang Hai'an 王海安 | Xinyang Zhanggao cun 信仰張高村 | Believing in Zhanggao Village | 2013 | 71 | Wang Hai'an explores the complex relationship between faith and people's outlook on life and history in Zhanggao village. | The Great Leap Forward: Qi Binghong http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0100wz62.html |
| Wu Wenguang 吳文光 | Diaocha: 1949 nian de fuqin 調查： 1949年的父親 | Investigating: My Father in 1949 | 2013 | 60 | ||
| Wu Wenguang 吳文光 | Yinwei Ji’e：Wu Riji Zhi Yi 因為飢餓：吳日記之1 | Because of Hunger: Diary I by Wu | 2013 | 90 | The Cultural Revolution: Chen Xinmin, see http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101iumn.html; Ma Guangxue http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da01017li9.html; The Four Clean-ups movement: Zhou Chengyou http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0102vk4h.html; Chen Xinmin http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101ho4s.html; Xia Changying http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101g2qn.html; Land reform: Li Guiting http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101k8wg.html | |
| Zhang Mengqi 章夢奇 | Zihuaxiang: 47 gongli zuomeng 自畫像：47公裡做夢 | Self-portrait: Dreaming at 47 km | 2013 | 77 | Zhang Mengqi sets out to open a public library in the village, thanks to local children and donations. Onsite performed sequences alternate with her interaction with villagers. | The Cultural Revolution: Zou Dengchang, see http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101hmjg.html; The Great Leap Forward: Zhang Xirong http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101h88m.html |
| Zou Xueping 鄒雪平 | Laji de cunzi 垃圾的村子 | Trash Village | 2013 | 82 | Environmental issues in the village, especially a massive garbage problem prompt Zou Xueping and the local children to act together. | |
| Wang Hai'an 王海安 | Shige Zhanggaocun 詩歌張高村 | Poeming Zhanggao Village | 2014 | 70 | The Cultural Revolution: Wu Yanyi, see http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101geyw.html; Wu Yanqia http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101f1wy.html; The Great Leap Forward: Wu Yanyi http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101ga0o.html; Land reform: Wu Yanqia http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101evbd.html; Wu Yanyi http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0101fgc5.html | |
| Ye Zuyi 叶祖艺 | Shisui 拾穗 | The Gleaners | 2014 | 94 | In this docu-fiction film, Ye Zuyi interviews old people about the famine in Guangdong province. | Trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SepdaTBm7o&noredirect=1The Land Reform Ye Xinji http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_8203e0da0100z89i.html |
| Zhang Mengqi 章夢奇 | Zihuaxiang: sishiqi gongli jiaqiao 自畫像：47公裡架橋 | Self-portrait: The Bridge at 47 km | 2014 | 77 | Zhang Mengqi brings the local kids to play over a small bridge. | |
| Guo Rui 郭睿 | Heliu he nüren de yinchang 河流與女人的吟唱 | The Rivers and Sisterhood | 2014 | 72 | This film focuses on various local female figures and their outlook on past and current issues. | |
| Li Xinmin 李新民 | Huamulin zhi bei 花木林之碑 | Huamulin zhi bei | 2014 | 70 | Li Xinmin films the process of erecting a memorial in her mountain village. | |
| Shu Qiao 舒僑 | Shuangjing, wo shi tanzi 雙井，我是癱子 | Shuangjing Village, I’m a paralyzed person | 2014 | 78 | Shu Qiao focuses on a very supportive character who appeared many times in his previous films and happens to be handicapped. | |
| Wu Wenguang 吳文光 | Diaocha Fuqin - Dang'anjuan 調查父親——檔案卷 | Diaocha Fuqin - Dang'anjuan | 2014 | 30 | ||
| Zhang Ping 張蘋 | Gui jia 歸鄉 | Losing Home | 2014 | 39 | ||
| Zou Xueping 鄒雪平 | Shazi de cunzi 傻子的村子 | Shazi de cunzi | 2014 | 80 |
