Film Lens
Ximei is a 2019 documentary directed by Andy Cohen and co-directed by Gaylen Ross, focusing on Liu Ximei, a peasant woman advocating for AIDS victims in China. The film captures the struggles of individuals who contracted AIDS in the 1990s after being encouraged by health officials to sell their blood under unsafe conditions. The filmmakers employed a gritty, vérité style to portray the harsh realities faced by these victims and the systemic issues surrounding their plight.
The production of Ximei spanned seven years, marked by significant interference from Chinese authorities. The filmmakers experienced surveillance, confiscation of footage, and expulsion from AIDS villages. Many subjects of the film were detained and coerced into signing statements, while the Chinese cameraman faced arrest for his activism. This backdrop of oppression adds depth to the portrayal of Liu Ximei's activism and the broader context of the AIDS crisis in China.
Why Watch
- •Meet Liu Ximei, a fierce advocate for AIDS victims.
- •See the impact of government interference on documentary filmmaking.
- •Follow the stories of AIDS victims in rural China.
Did You Know
•Production of Ximei lasted seven years due to Chinese official interference.
•Liu Ximei fights for AIDS victims who contracted the disease in the 1990s.
•The film's Chinese cameraman was arrested for his activism.
•Ximei won the Best Social Impact Doc at the Close Up Edinburgh Docufest.
Perfect For
AIDS awarenessChinese health policiesDocumentary filmmaking