Film Lens
The film compares the Shenzhen River, which serves as the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, to the Berlin Wall. It discusses the Second Line of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, constructed in June 1982 and demolished in June 2015, as a boundary between Socialism and Capitalism in China. The documentary features artists Miaoyuan LONG and Zen LU from the ON/OFF media Group, who document major checkpoints along these two boundaries.
The narrative also addresses the Big Escape, or Touch Base Policy, which facilitated movement from mainland China to Hong Kong during the 1950s to 1970s. The film provides a geopolitical history of Shenzhen and its evolving borders, culminating in a 48-minute audio-visual live performance that was part of the Official selection of Draft Systems 2017 WRO Media Art Biennale in Poland.
Why Watch
- •See Miaoyuan LONG and Zen LU's artistic take on borders.
- •Find out about the Touch Base Policy and its impact.
- •Meet the checkpoints that marked the border changes.
Did You Know
•The Second Line was constructed in June 1982 and demolished in June 2015.
•The Big Escape occurred during the 1950s to 1970s.
•The Shenzhen River continues to flow deeper after 1997.
•The film has a duration of 15 minutes.
Perfect For
Geopolitical historyArt and media enthusiastsChina's economic policies