DIRECTOR: JASON LOFTUS
STARRING: ANIMATED DOCUMENTARY
RUNNING TIME: 1 HR 26 MINUTES
In March 2002, a state TV station in China was hijacked by members of the outlawed spiritual group Falun Gong. Their goal was to counter the government narrative about their practice. In the aftermath, police raids sweep Changchun City, and comic book illustrator Daxiong, a Falun Gong practitioner, is forced to flee.
DISTRIBUTOR: LEVELFILM
IN THEATRES: NOW
STARRING: ANIMATED DOCUMENTARY
RUNNING TIME: 1 HR 26 MINUTES
In March 2002, a state TV station in China was hijacked by members of the outlawed spiritual group Falun Gong. Their goal was to counter the government narrative about their practice. In the aftermath, police raids sweep Changchun City, and comic book illustrator Daxiong, a Falun Gong practitioner, is forced to flee.
DISTRIBUTOR: LEVELFILM
IN THEATRES: NOW
FILM REVIEW:
(This review contains spoilers.)
"If you’re silent in the face of persecution, and look away when people are dying, are you still human?"
In March 2002, a state TV signal in China gets hacked by members of the banned spiritual group Falun Gong. Their goal is to counter the government narrative about their practice.
In the aftermath, police raids sweep Changchun City, and comic book illustrator Daxiong, a Falun Gong practitioner, is forced to flee. He arrives in North America, blaming the hijacking for worsening an already violent repression.
As you proceed with watching the film, you learn that Falun Gong is like Buddhism. It teaches about living without material things, working together, group exercises and meditation. It’s about Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.
The documentary goes back to Changchun in the early 2000s, through the work of Daxiong. And some of the other Falun Gong members during that time. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't really try to help us understand and evaluate the practices of this spiritual movement. And it doesn’t present the other side as well; thus the one-sided movie leaves out any possible critique of the Falun Gong group members.
(This review contains spoilers.)
"If you’re silent in the face of persecution, and look away when people are dying, are you still human?"
In March 2002, a state TV signal in China gets hacked by members of the banned spiritual group Falun Gong. Their goal is to counter the government narrative about their practice.
In the aftermath, police raids sweep Changchun City, and comic book illustrator Daxiong, a Falun Gong practitioner, is forced to flee. He arrives in North America, blaming the hijacking for worsening an already violent repression.
As you proceed with watching the film, you learn that Falun Gong is like Buddhism. It teaches about living without material things, working together, group exercises and meditation. It’s about Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.
The documentary goes back to Changchun in the early 2000s, through the work of Daxiong. And some of the other Falun Gong members during that time. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't really try to help us understand and evaluate the practices of this spiritual movement. And it doesn’t present the other side as well; thus the one-sided movie leaves out any possible critique of the Falun Gong group members.
