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NAFF 2010 | Raised from Dust
By Kwaku Adu-PokuRaised from Dust
China, 2006, 102 min
DIR: Gan, Xiao'er
Produced by the Seventh Seal Film Workshop
Raised from Dust tells a poignant story about the love and devotion of a woman to her family and her religion. It was produced by the Seventh Seal Film Workshop. Gan is an independent filmmaker based in China, who graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 1998, and has been teaching at the South China Normal University ever since. His production company, Seventh Seal Film Workshop, is committed to producing films which explore the spiritual life of the Chinese.
The film follows the day-to-day life of Xiao-li, a devoted wife and Christian, as she picks up odd jobs to support her family now that her husband has fallen ill. While she finds support and sympathy from the other members of her congregation, her life is not easy by any means. Things go from bad to worse, as they often do, and her faith is put to the ultimate test.
While the film tends to drag on at times, the story is emotionally compelling. There is no score, and somewhat minimal dialogue, which adds a sense of realism to the whole experience - like glimpsing into the life of this woman struggling to get by but generally remaining good-spirited through it all.
Particularly striking is a scene in which Xiao-li is preparing dinner. As she finishes cooking, her daughter clears her homework off the table, and replaces it with some bowls and a container. Xiao-li serves some food into the container first, which she later takes to her husband, before serving herself and her daughter. Her daughter says a quick prayer, and they begin to eat. The lives of these characters seem so routine - her husband is absent but not forgotten. Everything about her daily existence comes down to taking care of her family, and her unwavering faith in her religion.
Screening: Friday, May 28th, at 1pm.
"Schema Magazine's coverage of NAFF 2010 is sponsored by the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival"
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