Clipping together life

"We chose to highlight Kuaishou users because we have always believed that the essence of China lies not in the mainstream, ornate and exquisite urban scenes that are commonly portrayed, but in small towns and rural areas across the vast expanse of China's landscapes," Sun says.

"Those marginalized groups, who are given less attention and have little influence, make up the majority of the authentic China."

A team of 10 engaged in the research and compilation of short videos. They shared any videos they thought might fit with the group for discussion. It took more than a year to sift through 50,000 clips.

The production crew call the 509 Kuaishou users "cocreators" of the film. They come from all walks of life, especially manual laborers and farmers.

In compiling these clips, This Is Life engages ordinary people in its making and presents their authentic experiences, allowing people who are often inadequately represented in mainstream cinema to take center stage.

The team decided to select spontaneously uploaded videos rather than call for entries, furthering the goal of showing how people present their own lives in ways that are even more authentic than traditional documentaries.

"It's our creative endeavor, as documentarians, to present authentic facets of China, highlighting how each individual establishes themselves in a rapidly developing society," Sun says.