沉默的怒江 Silent Nu River 胡杰 Hu Jie (2005) (English subtitles)

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The Nu River, which runs through Southwestern China, is home to several minority groups, such as the Lisu, Nu, and Tibetan peoples. They live alongside the river, and their lifestyle is mainly supported by agriculture. The land near the river provides rich resources for grazing and farming, and people use the river for bathing and socializing. In the 2000s, the Chinese government initiated a dozen hydroelectric projects in the region. This documentary, produced by Hu Jie, explores the sentiments surrounding these projects, expressed by both the government and inhabitants of the region, through interviews. One interviewee – a local government representative – argued that the dams would improve people’s lives and benefit the country as a whole, but many other people have more doubts. Many locals were hesitant about the government projects, but they did not raise their concerns, because they were afraid of backlash from the government. Others knew that because their rights were not respected by the government, their opinions would be ignored. Many people were fearful that their lifestyle would fundamentally change if the dams were built. Firstly, people living near the river itself would be forcefully relocated to mountains, where they could no longer access the natural resources provided by the river and surrounding land. Furthermore, the ecology of the Nu River would be irreversibly transformed, since construction would harm local animals and plantations. Finally, some people questioned the success prospects of the construction projects: they believe that because of the unique landscape of the Nu River, the dams would not survive for long, and would collapse within several years. In addition to conducting interviews, Hu Jie also documented the Lisu people’s Christian practices. This film offers a glimpse into the unique culture, language, and lifestyle of Chinese minorities, and evaluates the tensions between the Chinese government and ethnic minorities. Since these tensions are often neglected by the Chinese media and government, who mainly promote themes of nationalism and unity, The Silent Nu River provides a significant step towards understanding the underlying disagreements between the Chinese government and its people.