Following the release of the documentary Our Children, this film shifts focus to ’s post-earthquake efforts to investigate and defend the rights of families who lost children in the disaster, as well as the immense obstacles and pressure he encountered in the process.
In late August 2008, after the 100-day mourning period for the May 12 Sichuan earthquake, rescue forces began to withdraw and media coverage of the school collapse deaths ceased, even though many families still had not received a satisfactory explanation as to why so many schools had collapsed while other buildings remained intact. Due to contradictory official statements, selective disclosure of information, and deliberate concealment from the public, environmental activist Tan Zuoren, along with Xie Yihui and local volunteers in Chengdu, launched an independent citizens’ investigation into the victims of the 5.12 earthquake during the winter of 2008. They believed that only those directly affected—namely, the parents—could provide truthful and reliable accounts.
They traveled across residential districts, searching for the causes of the school building collapses, recording the experiences of local residents, and tallying the number of victims. Through autumn and winter, Tan and Xie journeyed across 80 townships in 10 of the worst-hit counties, covering over 3,000 kilometers. Just before the one-year anniversary of the earthquake, they published their findings online, marking the first independently conducted citizen investigation into the school tragedies of the Sichuan quake.
During the investigation, Tan Zuoren stated, “There’s a high chance I’ll be arrested and sentenced to three or five years. I’ve already mentally prepared myself for that. But in the face of such a massive disaster, if no one stands up to speak, if we all shrink back like turtles hiding in their shells—then I’d rather spend those three or five years not seeing anyone.” As Tan anticipated, he eventually lost his freedom. His wife and daughter waited for the results of his trial.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, artist Ai Weiwei initiated a broader citizen movement. New volunteers arrived in Sichuan to compile the names of the children who had died. This film follows their footsteps, documenting their motivations, determination, and the many forms of obstruction they encountered. As Ai Weiwei wrote in a blog post before starting, there were only two scenarios in which he would stop the investigation: either he was no longer alive, or the list was complete. This film is an incomplete record of the citizen investigation. It also served as one of the pieces of testimony submitted to the court during Tan Zuoren’s trial for “inciting subversion of state power.”
In late August 2008, after the 100-day mourning period for the May 12 Sichuan earthquake, rescue forces began to withdraw and media coverage of the school collapse deaths ceased, even though many families still had not received a satisfactory explanation as to why so many schools had collapsed while other buildings remained intact. Due to contradictory official statements, selective disclosure of information, and deliberate concealment from the public, environmental activist Tan Zuoren, along with Xie Yihui and local volunteers in Chengdu, launched an independent citizens’ investigation into the victims of the 5.12 earthquake during the winter of 2008. They believed that only those directly affected—namely, the parents—could provide truthful and reliable accounts.
They traveled across residential districts, searching for the causes of the school building collapses, recording the experiences of local residents, and tallying the number of victims. Through autumn and winter, Tan and Xie journeyed across 80 townships in 10 of the worst-hit counties, covering over 3,000 kilometers. Just before the one-year anniversary of the earthquake, they published their findings online, marking the first independently conducted citizen investigation into the school tragedies of the Sichuan quake.
During the investigation, Tan Zuoren stated, “There’s a high chance I’ll be arrested and sentenced to three or five years. I’ve already mentally prepared myself for that. But in the face of such a massive disaster, if no one stands up to speak, if we all shrink back like turtles hiding in their shells—then I’d rather spend those three or five years not seeing anyone.” As Tan anticipated, he eventually lost his freedom. His wife and daughter waited for the results of his trial.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, artist Ai Weiwei initiated a broader citizen movement. New volunteers arrived in Sichuan to compile the names of the children who had died. This film follows their footsteps, documenting their motivations, determination, and the many forms of obstruction they encountered. As Ai Weiwei wrote in a blog post before starting, there were only two scenarios in which he would stop the investigation: either he was no longer alive, or the list was complete. This film is an incomplete record of the citizen investigation. It also served as one of the pieces of testimony submitted to the court during Tan Zuoren’s trial for “inciting subversion of state power.”
- Title
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An Investigation by Citizens
- Description
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Following the release of the documentary Our Children, this film shifts focus to ’s post-earthquake efforts to investigate and defend the rights of families who lost children in the disaster, as well as the immense obstacles and pressure he encountered in the process.
In late August 2008, after the 100-day mourning period for the May 12 Sichuan earthquake, rescue forces began to withdraw and media coverage of the school collapse deaths ceased, even though many families still had not received a satisfactory explanation as to why so many schools had collapsed while other buildings remained intact. Due to contradictory official statements, selective disclosure of information, and deliberate concealment from the public, environmental activist Tan Zuoren, along with Xie Yihui and local volunteers in Chengdu, launched an independent citizens’ investigation into the victims of the 5.12 earthquake during the winter of 2008. They believed that only those directly affected—namely, the parents—could provide truthful and reliable accounts.
They traveled across residential districts, searching for the causes of the school building collapses, recording the experiences of local residents, and tallying the number of victims. Through autumn and winter, Tan and Xie journeyed across 80 townships in 10 of the worst-hit counties, covering over 3,000 kilometers. Just before the one-year anniversary of the earthquake, they published their findings online, marking the first independently conducted citizen investigation into the school tragedies of the Sichuan quake.
During the investigation, Tan Zuoren stated, “There’s a high chance I’ll be arrested and sentenced to three or five years. I’ve already mentally prepared myself for that. But in the face of such a massive disaster, if no one stands up to speak, if we all shrink back like turtles hiding in their shells—then I’d rather spend those three or five years not seeing anyone.” As Tan anticipated, he eventually lost his freedom. His wife and daughter waited for the results of his trial.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, artist Ai Weiwei initiated a broader citizen movement. New volunteers arrived in Sichuan to compile the names of the children who had died. This film follows their footsteps, documenting their motivations, determination, and the many forms of obstruction they encountered. As Ai Weiwei wrote in a blog post before starting, there were only two scenarios in which he would stop the investigation: either he was no longer alive, or the list was complete. This film is an incomplete record of the citizen investigation. It also served as one of the pieces of testimony submitted to the court during Tan Zuoren’s trial for “inciting subversion of state power.” - Release Date
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2009
- Format
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Film and Video
- Creator
