China Gate

繁體中文China /2011 / 72min / HDV
Director：Wang Yang

“China Gate" tells the story of young Chinese fight to change their fate through studying.

Right before dawn, students in Huining have already started their self-studying session; hard working youngsters have filled up the space of school ground. This is one of the most poverty-stricken Counties in Western China; here people's only hope is in education, as the way to change their social status. Therefore all their effort point towards the College Entrance Examination, the process is like going through a gate, those who pass can study at urban Universities, and have the chance to build a better life.

During the same winter season in Beijing, a graduate student faces a big decision. Should he keep trying to survive in the big city or get back to his countryside home? The exhausted faces at the Beijing underground seem to be revealing the truth about their distance in between. The student comes to see the flag ceremony at Tiananmen Square, where the pulsing symbol of the nation lies. However it is not giving any answer to his anxiety.

Shanghai's nightfall sparkles with its prosperity, but one graduate from Shanghai music conservatory tells her struggle of finding a place in society. The memories of handwork from early age and the high hope of parents seem like yesterday, the home video footage of her sitting in front of the piano at young age looked like a bittersweet joke. Jumping back to the present, in a playful early learning institute, it seems more like confusion appearing on these children's face. Is this a new educational method that gives the answer to the high hopes of parents?.

 

 

 

 

Wang Yang, was born in Xi’an, China, with BA of law. Since 2007, he has been directed and produced four documentary films. Now he is an indie documentary director dedicated in documentary film making.

2003：Found XianHu Culture, a website dedicating to the study of films, culture and history
2004: Participate in the filming of “Wind breeze summer”. Responsible for directing and screenplay
2006: Participate in HD film “Sparrow”
2007: Create “Youth Film”, a magazine dedicating to the new wave of Chinese cinema.
2007: Found Horizon Youth Film studio
2007: Produced documentary film ‘Transition-Space’ which participated in varied film festivals such as Ping Yao DV film festival
2007: Created “Harvest”film making studio which is dedicated to document the pain of contemporary Chinese society.
2007: Curate for “Exhibition of Films of Young Chinese Directors”. Producing Documentary film “People of the new world”, “young”
Screenplays: “Ocean of Cui’s” “East West’ ‘Earthquake”
Films:
Experimental short film “GOING HOME“ 16 mins
Documentary film “ON YOUR MARK” 47 mins
Documentary film “THE SOUND OF SILENCE” 146mins
Documentary film “TRANSITION-SPACE” 103mins

 

 

 

 Life is like a journey of entering different doors, each door represents a world. Back in the feudal society in China, those who pass the imperial examination are privileged to be wealthy and successful. Today, changing one's fate through studying is still a key path for most children. For example, the College Entrance Exam is like a door, and getting a job is the one that follows. So such transitions are vital parts of one's life, but as an ordinary citizen, changes are often observed as numerical statistics charted emotionlessly. Therefore I wanted to use the camera to discover and capture the meaning behind these changes.

I traveled to three separate regions in China, crossing between urban and countryside, and followed different individuals. So the film captures a broader sense of how the current educational system influence on people and how it’s all connected, this way it gives an insight into the "Chinese Dream" behind the studying madness. The juxtaposition of a small county school with a highly pressured large city is a way to question deeper beneath the appearance; and by using the concept of "Door", I attempt to capture the struggle of hardworking Chinese, but more importantly, their spirit that keeps them fighting against all odds.

Each examination or career fair is a decisive moment for these young people. Facing such transition, the students keep on walking forward like their journey to school before dawn, with their torch leads the way in the darkness. I feel the experience of an individual is always revealing to the collective fate, therefore I think education is a powerful key to reflect present problems, even though it may seem like a crisis at first, but I believe it is also the beginning of new opportunities.

 

 

 

※The 54th edition of the International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film, 2011

※8th ZagrebDox festival INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, 2012

※4th DMZ Docs - Korean International Documentary Festival, International Competition, 2012

※2012 South Taiwan Film Association South Award—Chinese Films Competition, 2012

※2012 Chinese Documentary Festival, Features 2012