Film Lens
Petition is a documentary by Zhao Liang that follows petitioners in China from 1996 to 2008. These individuals travel to Beijing to seek justice for grievances against local authorities. Many petitioners wait for extended periods, often living in makeshift shelters near the southern railway station, as they attempt to have their complaints heard.
The film presents a range of cases, including mothers of abused soldiers and farmers displaced from their land. It captures the struggles of these petitioners against bureaucratic obstacles and their personal challenges, often using hidden cameras to document their interactions with government officials.
Why Watch
- •Meet the petitioners fighting for justice in Beijing.
- •See hidden camera footage from government offices.
- •Find out about the lives of those living in makeshift shelters.
Did You Know
•The film was screened at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.
•Zhao Liang filmed the petitioners over a span of 12 years, from 1996 to 2008.
•Petitioners often wait months or years for their grievances to be addressed.
•The documentary received the Marek Nowicki Prize at the 2011 WATCH DOCS festival.
Perfect For
Human rights activismChinese social issuesDocumentary filmmaking