Sending a strong message
By Xu Wei |
October 21, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
DOCUMENTARIES are a powerful way of informing people about the world around them.
The simplicity of the format makes the film maker's message resonate. This is also true about documentaries about inhumane treatment of animals, which can help people reconsider their relationship with animals.
The first Chinese Documentary Film Awards, established by iSunTV in April 2011, has unearthed several touching films focusing on animal welfare among the 200 or so entries from China, Singapore and Malaysia.
"The Elephant Slave in Mekong Riverside" by Chinese mainland documentary film maker Wang Yizhong focuses on the plight of about 1,500 elephants in Laos. The elephants are used to haul timber up and down mountains every day from 8am to 6pm. Only then are they allowed to seek food in the forest.
In addition to showing the cruel living condition for the elephants, Wang also conveys his deep concern for the forests that are under the threat of rapid degradation and over-foresting.
The main reason for that is the popularity of rosewood furniture. Since 2002, the prices of red and yellow rosewood have risen quickly in China. Every year nearly 50,000 cubic meters of trees in the Mekong Basin are chopped down.
"Being" and "The End of Drifting" are short documentary films by two young Taiwan film makers. Female director Chou Tingju explores the lives of pigs and their destiny to end up on someone's dinner table. The pigs, as she depicts in the film, have more pathetic lives than stray dogs and cats since their whole life is about being fattened up to become food.
"The End of Drifting" by Shen Zigeng revolves around a group of people's long-term endeavors to protect and take care of stray dogs and cats in Taiwan. It is estimated that there are around 80,000 stray dogs in Taiwan. The local government may put them down if they are not adopted.
The group of people, many of whom quit good office jobs, have spared no effort to help these animals. They provide shelter and food while seeking warm-hearted people to adopt them.
Both film makers want audiences to understand that animals should receive fair treatment from society.
Another thought-provoking entry is the 68-minute documentary "San Hua," directed by Chinese mainland film maker Guo Ke. It took Guo and his team more than seven months to shoot the film about the inhumane treatment and eating of cats in southern China.
Guo, in an earlier interview called for a national law against animal abuse, which would ban eating cats and dogs. He also noted that many people today are not taking responsibility for animals and pets. They may regard pets just as toys, but they don't understand these animals are very dependent on them.
Two prizes will be given, the iSun Citizens Prize and the iSun TNC Prize.
People can vote for their favorite documentary online and the winning films will be announced on November 4 and 5. They will also be screened in Hong Kong.
All these documentary films can be watched on http://65.49.26.206.
The simplicity of the format makes the film maker's message resonate. This is also true about documentaries about inhumane treatment of animals, which can help people reconsider their relationship with animals.
The first Chinese Documentary Film Awards, established by iSunTV in April 2011, has unearthed several touching films focusing on animal welfare among the 200 or so entries from China, Singapore and Malaysia.
"The Elephant Slave in Mekong Riverside" by Chinese mainland documentary film maker Wang Yizhong focuses on the plight of about 1,500 elephants in Laos. The elephants are used to haul timber up and down mountains every day from 8am to 6pm. Only then are they allowed to seek food in the forest.
In addition to showing the cruel living condition for the elephants, Wang also conveys his deep concern for the forests that are under the threat of rapid degradation and over-foresting.
The main reason for that is the popularity of rosewood furniture. Since 2002, the prices of red and yellow rosewood have risen quickly in China. Every year nearly 50,000 cubic meters of trees in the Mekong Basin are chopped down.
"Being" and "The End of Drifting" are short documentary films by two young Taiwan film makers. Female director Chou Tingju explores the lives of pigs and their destiny to end up on someone's dinner table. The pigs, as she depicts in the film, have more pathetic lives than stray dogs and cats since their whole life is about being fattened up to become food.
"The End of Drifting" by Shen Zigeng revolves around a group of people's long-term endeavors to protect and take care of stray dogs and cats in Taiwan. It is estimated that there are around 80,000 stray dogs in Taiwan. The local government may put them down if they are not adopted.
The group of people, many of whom quit good office jobs, have spared no effort to help these animals. They provide shelter and food while seeking warm-hearted people to adopt them.
Both film makers want audiences to understand that animals should receive fair treatment from society.
Another thought-provoking entry is the 68-minute documentary "San Hua," directed by Chinese mainland film maker Guo Ke. It took Guo and his team more than seven months to shoot the film about the inhumane treatment and eating of cats in southern China.
Guo, in an earlier interview called for a national law against animal abuse, which would ban eating cats and dogs. He also noted that many people today are not taking responsibility for animals and pets. They may regard pets just as toys, but they don't understand these animals are very dependent on them.
Two prizes will be given, the iSun Citizens Prize and the iSun TNC Prize.
People can vote for their favorite documentary online and the winning films will be announced on November 4 and 5. They will also be screened in Hong Kong.
All these documentary films can be watched on http://65.49.26.206.
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