Ebook: Ethics, Subject and Place in Chinese-Language Documentaries

Documentary film-making is one of the most vibrant areas of media activity in the Chinese world, with many independent film-makers producing documentaries that deal with a range of sensitive socio-political matters, bringing to their work a strongly ethical approach. This book examines this independent documentary film-making, in both mainland China and in Taiwan. It outlines how documentary film-making has developed, contrasts independent documentaries with dominant official state productions, considers how independent documentary film-makers go about their work, including the work of distributing their films and connecting with audiences, and discusses the content of their documentaries, showing how the film-makers portray a wide range of subject matter including places and people, and how they deal with particular issues including the underpriviledged, migrants and women in an ethical way. Throughout the book demonstrates how successful Chinese independent documentary film-making is, with many appearances at international film festivals and a growing number of award-winning titles.