Educational Media Reviews Online

This documentary tells the admirable tale of television writer Mei Zi’s dedication to educating poor children and preserving China’s cultural arts. The vehicle for her heroic work is the 75-acre motion picture studio and performing arts institute, Beiputuo, which she founded in 1995. Beiputuo, located on the southern outskirts of Beijing, near Tiananmen Square, is compared to Hollywood’s Universal Studios, as both are bustling entertainment meccas that draw tourists and offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse at movie making. Although these similarities exist, the filmmaker overemphasizes them in the beginning of the program. The video opens with footage showing vacationers at Universal studios, and at one point, these visuals are paired with narration describing Beiputuo. The juxtaposition can be confusing and seems (unintentionally) somewhat hegemonic. The educational mission of Beiputuo distinguishes it from Hollywood, and the documentary does proceed to elaborate on this unique attribute. In addition to the School for Performing Arts, Beiputuo features a College for Basic Education that enrolls children from poor families, tuition free, and hosts a cultural exchange program.

Beiputuo offers numerous attractions, activities and opportunities, all of which the filmmaker strives to weave into a 52 minute documentary. Somewhere in between the interviews with grateful students, snapshots of everyday Chinese life, tours of the studio grounds and period sets, glimpses of professional and student performances, reenactments of Mei Zi’s childhood hardships, and observations of classroom activities, the focus becomes diluted. While many of these aspects are important, the lack of emphasis dulls a documentary that has the potential to be much more interesting, and sometimes prolix editing contributes to the ennui factor. The film includes some poignant scenes, such as when a young student sheds tears of thankfulness for the chance to study, despite her family’s poverty, or when the mother of a student, whose father left the family after his daughter was born, recounts her suffering. Although problems faced by girls and women due to China’s one-child-per-family policy are mentioned, much more could be said about the phenomenon in relation to Mei Zi’s philanthropy. Such a focus would also provide a better context for the emotional interviews, which are too poorly framed to elicit ample understanding or sympathy in the average viewer.

Despite its weaknesses, Beiputuo: Mei Zi’s Hollywood in China succeeds in showcasing spectacular musical, dance, and acrobatic performances that characterize the studio, as well as traditional Chinese costumes and musical instruments. It is unclear what educational purpose this film seeks to serve, or whom it is meant to address, although the comparison with Universal Studios suggests a mostly American audience. The video may be of interest to travelers and to persons involved in social work, Asian studies, art education, or the performing arts. Certain public libraries may be interested in acquiring a copy, because it is the only documentary of its kind available, and few materials exist on the topic.