China's much neglected and socially frowned upon migrant workers
are the stars of a film released in China on Saturday that portrays
them with dignity and respect.
"Loach Is Fish Too", directed by Yang Yazhou, follows the story
of two workers from the countryside who share the name Ni Qiu
(Loach) as they try to eke out a subsistence living in the capital,
Beijing.
Approximately 140 million farmer peasants, more than a tenth of
China's 1.3 billion population, have migrated to the cities for
work. They are subject to bias, discrimination and shabby treatment
as they are poorly educated and do low-paid jobs as housekeepers,
construction workers, waiters and repairmen.
Yang, know as "the people's movie maker", is adept at reflecting
social changes by portraying the lives of common people. His
previous works include "Pretty Big Feet", the story of rural
teachers.
"The message of 'Loach Is Fish Too' is that as long as I stand
straight, I'm equal to you. Everyone has dignity," he told
Xinhua.
All the actors worked without the benefit of make-up to show the
gritty reality of migrant life, except one who played an
intellectual, he added.
Migrant workers have constituted the largest passenger group in
the country's holiday travel peaks during past 25 years or so since
the late 1970s and early 1980s, as they leave the cities for family
reunions. During these periods of time, many jobs are left without
workers.
Few Chinese movies have focused on this disadvantaged sector of
society despite its increasing influence on the country.
"It's wrong that such a large part of society is so neglected in
art," Yang acknowledged.
Compared to the aloof portrayal of migrant workers in "The
World" (2004) by up-and-coming director Jia Zhangke, "Loach Is Fish
Too" shows more warmth, sincerity and humor.
A winner of the Best Artistic Contribution award at the Tokyo
International Film Festival last year, the movie is vying for 12
awards with 29 other Chinese-made films at the on-going the 13th
Beijing Student Film Festival, the year's first film festival on
the Chinese mainland.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2006)