Private Project

THE CONFUCIUS VILLAGE

A group of Confucius descendants trekked thousands of miles into deep mountains in Fujian Province far away from their homeland. For centuries, they have etched out a peaceful existence, honoring the distinct Confucian tradition despite the sound and fury of modern life outside. As the wind of Chinese economic reform sweeps across the nation, the air in the village is filled with agitation and tension. Never before has the rural community witnessed a divided clan embroiled in sizzling conflicts and resentments.
A planned highway that will cut through the village opens the gate for the pent-up anger and frustrations, bringing the village to a boiling point.
This documentary is a memory of a group of lost Confucius dependents in the mountains of eastern China, seeking for a spiritual home through struggles and sufferings, as well as a portrait of agricultural and emotional struggles that a backward countryside faced under China’s drastic change. By virtue of being Confucius descendants, their experience becomes all the more significant and symbolic.

  • Jiandong Huang
    Director
  • Jiandong Huang
    Writer
  • Longxiao
    Producer
  • Qingpin Kong
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    孔子的村庄
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 33 minutes 38 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 6, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Degital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jiandong Huang

Jiandong Huang, an award-winning documentary filmmaker for over 20 years, is based in Fuzhou, China. He has been a writer/producer/director/photographer on over a dozen documentary films focusing on the lives of the powerless in Chinese society in the era of economic reform and cultural transformations. His major documentary films include His Buddha, The Son of the Dragon, and Stories from the South China Sea. His recent documentary feature, Life is Elsewhere, the second installment of his widely acclaimed “Rural Trilogy,” documents the impact of generations of illegal immigration on a small island village in southern China, earning him numerous prestigious national and international awards. Currently, he is a senior director, writer, and photographer in the Documentary Department at Fujian Television, China.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

A group of Confucius descendants trekked thousands of miles into deep mountains in Fujian Province far away from their homeland. For centuries, they have etched out a peaceful existence, honoring the distinct Confucian tradition despite the sound and fury of modern life outside. As the wind of Chinese economic reform sweeps across the nation, the air in the village is filled with agitation and tension. Never before has the rural community witnessed a divided clan embroiled in sizzling conflicts and resentments.

A planned highway that will cut through the village opens the gate for the pent-up anger and frustrations, bringing the village to a boiling point.
This documentary is a memory of a group of lost Confucius dependents in the mountains of eastern China, seeking for a spiritual home through struggles and sufferings, as well as a portrait of agricultural and emotional struggles that a backward countryside faced under China’s drastic change.

The Confucius Village chronicles the sufferings and triumphs of the villagers in their search for a spiritual home. By virtue of being Confucius descendants, their experience becomes all the more significant and symbolic.