Documentary film on Xinjiang cotton farmers wins acclaim

BEIJING -- "Fabric of Lives," a documentary film that follows two cotton-planting families in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has drawn widespread acclaim for its portrayal of local farmers' resilience and harmonious coexistence.

The documentary, which hit screens nationwide on May 7, employs a cinéma vérité approach to chronicle the two families' journey of overcoming various challenges and ultimately achieving a bountiful cotton harvest in Awat county, known as the home of premium Chinese long staple cotton.

The production team embedded cinematographers with the farming households, capturing daily life through an observational lens while letting authentic events dictate the narrative flow, according to Liu Guoyi, the film's director.

"Throughout our months-long shoot, we shared meals and living spaces with the two families, and were deeply moved by their hard-working spirit," said Liu Yang, the film's producer.

As one of the world's key cotton-producing regions, Xinjiang's cotton cultivation and processing, as well as its cotton textile industry, have been crucial pillars of prosperity for people of all ethnic groups in the region.

From the meticulous process of baking naan to mealtime discussions of children's school life, from stitching new quilts for their daughter following a cotton harvest to preparing a farewell feast, the documentary also explores daily life in southern Xinjiang's communities.

"The cotton carries the lives and hopes of Xinjiang's cotton farmers, while bearing witness to the transformation of this land. Watching this film is like stepping into their lives, feeling the hardships of their labor and the joy of the harvest. I hope more people will learn about the real Xinjiang through this footage," read a comment on social media platform Weibo.

The documentary illuminates Xinjiang cotton farmers' stories within China's broader modernization narrative, demonstrating their respect for life, love for the soil, and cherished family bonds, said Zhao Lifang, a film critic at the Chinese Collegial Association for Visual Art.

The film's portrayal of parents' tireless dedication to their children and farmers' celebration of the harvest resonates with global audiences, transcending cultural boundaries through shared human experiences. It was selected for the Shanghai International Film Festival and the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam last year.

"Through the depictions of daily life, this documentary shows that Xinjiang's beauty lies not merely in its landscapes, but also in the ordinary people who find happiness in their work," said Pu Jian, director of the Directing Department of the School of Theater, Film and Television, Communication University of China.

"The global viewers can see a more authentic and tangible Xinjiang through this film," Pu added.