Educational Media Reviews Online

Hospices are facilities devoted to providing palliative and supportive care to the dying and their families. The well-developed concept of hospice care in Europe, the United States and elsewhere has only one comparative Chinese People's Republic of China (PRC) counterpart, a specialized hospital in Bejing founded by a Dr. Li Wei in 1990. The Chinese Hospice presents an intimate blend of testimonials from and care for dying patients, a portrait of Dr. Wei's care forged in response to death and suffering he witnessed decades ago, as well as contemporary samples of modern China's conspicuous consumption juxtaposed against the sincerity of youthful hospice volunteers.

The patients in the Beijing hospice lack conspicuous relatives, and the viewer will learn from their stories that their kins' absence can be attributed to the disintegration of family values during the era of former Chairman Mao's 1960s "Cultural Revolution". The hospital and its seeming army of more than 10,000 youthful volunteers and staff are apparently the passionate, caring extended family for survivors that witnessed both the idealism of the revolution and the unfortunate era of students turning on teachers and children turning on parents.

Dr. Wei, unexpectedly youthful himself, explains the source of his own idealism, as do student volunteers that understand the dependent relationship that is being forged. The patients' own stories are simple and profound in the strength of their own convictions, ideals and, for the lucid and articulate, the tribulations they have experienced. Patient testimonials are filmed in intimate close-ups and accompanied by subtitle translations. Historical stock footage of wartime persecution and the revolutionary era are interspersed to illustrate some of the events being described.

The drift of personal deviation from official government prescription is conspicuous in the context of the hospital community portrayed by the film. Dr. Wei speaks in favor of situations for compassionate euthanasia, though the film narration clearly states that euthanasia continues to be illegal in the PRC. A respected 99 year-old patient conducts a public Bible study lecture with other patients and volunteers, though the narrator advises that 93% of patients have no religious faith. Patients representing the more popular agnostic perspective also appear in the film and speak their mind.

The production also features an unobtrusive musical soundtrack and inadvertent glimpses of cultural legacy, such as patients crippled with pre-revolution foot binding. Transitions are effective and smooth, and the editing is effective. The film closes with an elderly former film actor assigned to hard labor during the "Cultural Revolution", now on his deathbed. Clearly near the end, he is nevertheless elated to be back in front of a camera after several decades and spontaneously tries to demonstrate his vocal prowess.

The Chinese Hospice is appropriate for a variety of audiences interested in death and dying or hospice care, as well as those interested in the sociology of aging in contemporary cultures.

Highly Recommended.