Matinee

Series/Themes: International Oscar Contenders

Genre: Animation, Documentaries, International

Accessibility: Subtitles

Film Year: 2022

Locations: Canada

Film Length: 86 min

Languages: Mandarin

Subtitles: Yes

Director: Jason Loftus

Featuring: Daxiong, Jin Xuezhe, Lan Lihua, Wang Jianmin

Official Oscar^© Selection—Canada

In March 2002, the outlawed spiritual group Falun Gong hijacked a state TV station in China, attempting to counter the government narrative about their spiritual practice. In the aftermath of the incident, police raids sweep Changchun City, ultimately forcing comic book illustrator and Falun Gong member Daxiong to flee the country. Arriving in North America, Daxiong establishes himself as an acclaimed comic book artist, yet the events leading up to his exile remain at the front of his memory. Now two decades later, another surviving activist who managed to escape China challenges Daxiong’s recollection of events. This animated documentary utilizes first-person recounts and beautifully drawn re-enactments to emphasize the courage and sacrifice needed in the face of religious and political persecution, regardless of the cost.