Part 6. My last day at the Beijing Screening 2007. But I had to see this film; ‘Invisible Wings’.

Friday, Sept. 21st: This morning would be my last day at the Beijing Screening 2007; and my final day in Beijing before flying to Shanghai. But I had to see this film; ‘Invisible Wings’. Time would be short, so I splurged to reserve a hotel limousine to the International Airport. After a quick McD breakfast, I headed for the designated cinema. I was early ahead of anyone else. When the doors opened, I found a seat at the back and received another film flyer advertising the movie. It was mainly in Chinese, so I had no real understanding of the story. But it is important that the readers know; so let me jump ahead. After the movie I received a three page insert provided by the Director, Feng Zhenzhi, containing his notes; and a synopsis of the script. Here is part of what he wrote:

When I first read the news report of an armless girl student who kept forging ahead in spite of her adversity, I was moved to tears.

There was also news about University Students who had committed suicide. Those who could otherwise have been valuable participants in building the society instantly became the eternal sorrow of their parents. What in the world did they lack in their spirit?

There are hundreds of millions of teenagers in China. They enjoy the richness and serenity of life. Their living conditions are becoming better and better. But in the face of setbacks and adversities of life, are they mentally ready?

What films do we choose for our children to see so that their genius can be revealed in adversity instead of being concealed in fortune, and that their tender hearts can be hammered healthier?

In view of this, my Wife, Zhao Huili and I decided to do this story and we spent two years working on the script and finally put it onto the silver screen. Through the story of an armless girl who is not mentally down while being physically disabled, she studies hard to repay her Mother’s kindness. We try to portray the purely Chinese, special terms of endearment between a Mother, (Yang Jing) and her daughter, (Zhi Hua). We explore a deep theme of humans challenging the limits of life, and we display the splendor of humanity and life in their extremes.

In the making of this movie, Crew members were often moved to applaud, as well as to tears.

Dear Audience: In seeing this movie, if you are somewhat moved, or if you still remember some of the scenes in the film after three years, that will be the best affirmation and prize to our work.

Synopsis:

Zhi Hua lost both her arms above the elbows because of a high voltage electric shock. She was with other children playing with kites when one kite snagged the overhead cables. In attempting to release the kite string, the electric current completely burned both arms necessitating amputation above the elbows. She could not do anything; not even go to school, because she could not write her homework. This sudden blow caused her Mother to suffer from spasmodic schizophrenia. (In the movie, this was triggered whenever she saw a kite.)

Through a long period of hard training, Zhi Hua not only learned to write with her feet, which won her back her opportunity to return to school, she also learned to feed herself using chopsticks; to wash her face, brush her teeth, and dress herself, among other things, using her feet and supple toes. So the school finally accepted her as a boarding student.

One day, her Mother walked into the Lake in a fit of schizophrenia in an attempted suicide. Zhi Hua found her Mom and tried to rescue her. Because she was armless and did not know how to swim; both the Mother and daughter nearly drowned. From then on, Zhi Hua was determined to learn how to swim and to take good care of her Mother.

Zhi Hua passed the University entrance examination and applied for a medical school; but because she was armless, she was not admitted. This sad news rendered her Mother insane again, and she wandered away from home, became lost, and it is assumed that she died. After hard training with other limbless scholars, she qualified to participate in the National Swim Championship for the disabled. She won her events, and became a Gold Medal champion. As a result, she was admitted as a student to the Provincial University of Physical Education thus realizing her Mother’s dream for her. But her Mother never returned.

Now came my questions: The part of Zhi Hua was played by a young High School student from the western Province of Sichuan. She too was identically armless with upper arm stubs about 15 cm. Her name is Lei Qingyao. This was her very first appearance in a movie. Being armless, she becomes a one of a kind special actress.

In the movie, we see the Mother, after the accident, gradually working the leg joints, the spine and toes, gradually making her flexible enough to place her foot and feet on her head. She also works on her neck and in conjunction with the arm stubs, teaches her to lift bags and other personal items. We also watch her tears as her Mother relieves the almost constant cramp in toes, feet, and calves. The emotional highs are when she gets two boys to help her learn to ride along a track across a field on a standard two wheeled bicycle using a strap (the boy’s belt) across the handlebars. The courage (and stubbornness, and frustration, and anger at each failure) are obvious; the falls were hard to watch. Another moment is when she threads a needle with her toes and mends her torn pants. The beauty is when she masters a paint brush in calligraphy and art. We shared the pain, the anger, and the frustrations she faced constantly: and we cried with her. We cheered when she succeeded. But it was also the agony and exhaustion she and the other swimmers faced under the disciplined tutoring of the swimming coach. Breathing in water is very uncomfortable and painful. Perhaps the portions that are left to the imagination are also hard to endure. Think of the body parts that we with hands and arms cannot reach and have great difficulty washing.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=150c1up1.a7qlwmzh&Uy=yewpzf&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1

But the question I have that remains unanswered was as follows; Are there any parallels between Lei, the Actor, and the character, Zhi Hua? How did Lei lose her arms? Did she suffer the torture of making herself into a flexible contortionist? Or did she lose them from a very early age? But then again, does it really matter? Many of us were crying. (The fact was that she really did have to learn how to swim again at high speed just for the movies. I have tried swimming only using my feet since I returned. For more than 50 years I have worn a mask and snorkel. She was doing it the hard and painfull way with goggles only.)

Lei had been at the previous showing three days earlier in person. That was when she autographed the programs. As the credits were being shown, I looked towards the back of the Theatre, and I thought I could see her in the darkness. So I got up and walked over to where she was seated. I congratulated her and thanked her for what she had revealed to us and taught us, not in our brains but deep in our hearts. I think she understood! She jumped up smiling excitedly and allowed me to embrace her in a hug with her ‘arms’ on my shoulders. Then I took her photo. Another woman approached and asked; ‘Why don’t we go out into the entrance where it is light then everyone can take pictures.’ She introduced herself: She was Zhao Huili, the wife of the Director and half of the Screenplay writing team. She was also one of the producers. I am thrilled that Ms Zhao and her husband were inspired to research the story and write the screenplay. In turn, I was privileged and honored to be photographed with this beautiful, ever smiling inspiration, the Star, Lei Qing yao. What an incredible young lady. I hope too that she will find many continuing roles for herself on the ‘Silver Screen’.

(When the next diary gets to Shanghai, I will be mentioning the preamble to the 2007 Disabled Olympics which were held in Shanghai this year. I have learned that Lei was in attendance there and sang one of the songs at the Olympic Opening Ceremony in front of Chairman Hu Jin Tao; Perhaps even the Olympic Hymn. I am still trying to purchase a copy of the movie.)

These had been two eye-opening movies for me. As obvious as they were, I guess I rarely get round to analyzing human situations in any great depth. That has to change to compassion from indifference and ignorance.

(Disabled Ballet)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnLVRQCjh8c
Thousand Armed Buddha
http://blog.wenxuecity.com/blogview.php?date=200704&postID=29837


Immediately after this I dashed away, grab my bags and found the limousine. The ride was in luxury, very peaceful, no stress, and a bright sunny day. I settled back and thought how fortunate I had been. But as I rested, I also recalled others who had made this visit so meaningful. Of course, there was Huang Wei. None of this could happen without her friendship and great thoughtfulness. Then there was my new Friend who had led the organizing team for this year’s event, and incidentally, always hunted me down at each special event to keep me informed and to make sure I was always on the bus. Then there was Shang Chen, (Sharon) who was our guide on the tour of the Studios, and also led us to the supper at the Hou Hai District. She was a University student and only a part time event worker, but she performed like a tour professional especially when she had to figure out a way to get one of the guests to the closest Subway to make another appointment on time. She was fluent in English too. Another interesting person who sat next to me at one point, was Haishu Li, a young professional and marketing Director of Asia for a US company in California. She had been a screenwiter and producer for a recent Jackie Chan movie. (He will show up again in a later diary covering Hong Kong’s ‘Avenue of the Stars’.)

In Beijing, and probably other major University cities as well, Art and calligraphy students will stop you in pairs to welcome you and take you to a small gallery nearby to an exhibition of their work. I urge you not to miss these occasions. Yes, they want to sell the work to raise tuition funding. Yes, they are prepared to haggle over price. And yes, they are truly good artists. Nowadays when everything here is made in China, it is hard to find something special and unique. Well, this is a great way. In my case, this was the second time to be approached on a trip to China. In the Mall, I met Dong Yu (Dawn) and Gao Wen (Maisie). They were from the Beijing Fine Arts University. We have been in contact since returning, more than once, and they are delighted as you would be to have a contact overseas. Try it; buy an original; you won’t be disappointed!

(The Limo reached the Airport in plenty of time for a smooth flight to the Hong Qiao (Rainbow) Airport in Shanghai. See you there in Diary Part 7.)