Educational Media Reviews Online

China has one of the world’s largest populations. There has been a government policy of one child per family as a way to curtail the country's rapid expansion. In 2008, there was an earthquake in the Sichuan province that decimated the area. In the aftermath, an entire city was moved and reestablished elsewhere. The earthquake was a natural disaster that had an estimated 90,000 causalities. 5,000 of those deceased were children. One Child is a documentary about three families who were left behind. Due to advanced age, two of the families interviewed aren’t able to have any more children, however the third family was able to have a second child, a daughter.

Within the Chinese culture, having children is considered to be fortunate, since it ensures the lineage of the family as well as support. Because of the earthquake, a generation was lost and quickly replaced, since the government allowed it. This new generation is known as “reborn” because they are the second child of the parents. For the parents who can’t physically have any more children, they are known as empty nesters, and are viewed as a lost cause. The documentary spoke about the coping issues that the families faced.

One Child clearly shows a different environment and how a modern urban society quickly had to move on for the greater good. This film is recommended for general adult viewing at either a public library setting or an academic setting.

Awards

• 2013 Sidney Gross Memorial Prize for Investigative Journalism,
• 41st Student Academy Award