Singing in the Wilderness

China’s got talent? It definitely has ‘The Voice’. Dongnan Chen, a Chinese filmmaker, closely examined the Christian choir in a Miao village in the mountains of Yunnan Province. Co-opted by the government propaganda machine, this talented group is forced to sing more secular songs in less sacred settings. Mamma mia!

Two members of the choir in particular are followed, over the course of several years. Both are dynamic young women who end up in an unhappy forced marriage. Refraining from voice-over, Chen deftly alternates between locations and situations. Her compassionate view is delicately interwoven with her editing, which contrasts the difficult implications of life according to religious traditions with the many threats that come with a modern, materialistic lifestyle. While the choir conductor loses grip on his collective, the film turns into a metaphor for the rapid transformations of a constantly evolving China.

---
Available on Festival Scope Pro from 26 January 9:00 CET to 14 February 9:00 CET