Asia Society at the Movies: My People, My Homeland — A Beijing Good Person

My People, My Homeland is a 2020 Chinese anthology consisting of five comedic short films directed by acclaimed Chinese filmmakers including Ning Hao, Chen Sicheng, and Xu Zheng, among others. The hilarious and heartwarming stories take place in different parts of rural China in Beijing, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Hangzhou, and Shenyang, and depict how various characters explore what makes their communities unique.

The first short film in the anthology, A Beijing Good Person directed by Ning Hao, is a heartfelt and bittersweet story about a man, Zhang Beijing, helping his uncle to receive thyroid cancer treatment in Beijing. With no other options, Zhang ends up turning to identity fraud and has to fake his uncle’s medical insurance card. 

Join us for a weekend-long screening of A Beijing Good Person, followed by a conversation on July 19 at 8 p.m. New York time with director Ning Hao and Ellen R. Eliasoph, a veteran film executive and producer. The discussion will offer a closer look at Ning’s career, Chinese film, and more.

My People, My Homeland — A Beijing Good Person

Genre: Comedy
Duration: 30 minutes
Language: Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Director: Ning Hao 
Principal Cast: Ge You, Zhang Zhanyi, Liu Mintao

Speakers

Ning Hao is a Chinese film director, writer and producer. His films are deeply rooted in China and depict the rapidly changing kaleidoscope of modern Chinese society. He brings a unique authorial perspective and signature individual aesthetic to all his works and has achieved numerous milestones in the development of the Chinese film industry. Commencing with Crazy Stone and continuing through his recent holiday blockbuster Crazy Alien, Ning has woven new creative concepts and elements, such as black humor and multi-strand narratives, into the fabric of Chinese filmmaking. Because Ning’s films all live within his unique “absurdist” universe, they are endowed with a consistency of spirit that differentiates them from other films of similar genres. In 2016, Ning Hao launched the “Naughty Monkey 72 Film Project” with the intention of nurturing and guiding a group of young, ambitious directors; exploring and unearthing newly emerging filmmaking talent; and creating a platform for the development and promulgation of new ideas, attitudes, personalities, and visions. A number of these emerging talents have already achieved great commercial and critical success with their debut feature films.

Ellen R. Eliasoph is a veteran U.S. and Australian film executive and producer who has spent the last 25 years building bridges among Hollywood, China, and Australia. Eliasoph became the first Hollywood executive to be based in China when she established Warner Bros.’ Beijing office in 1993. During her tenure as head of Warner Bros. Pictures China, she arranged and managed the China releases of The Matrix, the Harry Potter series, and other WB blockbusters. She also served as studio production executive on WB’s local Chinese films and international co-productions. During the last 15 years, starting at Warner Bros. and then as head of Village Roadshow Pictures Asia, Eliasoph has focused on development and production, working with established talents such as Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow, and Zhang Yimou, as well as up-and-coming Chinese filmmakers. Eliasoph’s notable productions include Stephen Chow’s Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons; Bleeding Steel starring Jackie Chan; Zhang Yimou’s Shadow; Ning Hao’s Crazy Stone and Crazy Racer; Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut, Man of Tai Chi; John Curran’s The Painted Veil, and the award-winning early films of several young Chinese directors. Eliasoph is primarily based in Beijing. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Producers Guild of America, and the Australia Academy of Cinematic and Television Arts.

This film is presented as part of a Ning Hao retrospective, organized by Asia Society at the Movies. One of China’s most distinguished filmmakers, Ning Hao is a director, writer, and producer whose unique films depict the rapidly changing kaleidoscope of modern Chinese society.

This program is made possible by Dirty Monkey.

This program is presented by Asia Society Museum and Asia Society Southern California as part of Asia Society at the Movies, a series that showcases a broad range of films and filmmakers from across Asia and the Asian diaspora.

Asia Society at the Movies
Asia Society is proud to present Asia Society at the Movies, a new series of film screenings and conversations showcasing a broad range of films and filmmakers from across Asia and the Asian diaspora. Asia Society at the Movies celebrates established and emerging voices, contemporary films and classics, and documentaries. The series builds on Asia Society’s long and rich history of film programming. This initiative also serves to deepen understanding of Asian cultures—a core part of Asia Society’s mission since its creation. Learn more about the Asia Society at the Movies initiative.

About Asia Society Museum
Asia Society Museum presents a wide range of traditional, modern, and contemporary exhibitions of Asian and Asian American art, taking new approaches to familiar masterpieces and introducing under-recognized arts and artists. The Asia Society Museum Collection comprises a traditional art collection, including the initial bequests of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd, and a contemporary art collection. Through exhibitions and public programs, Asia Society provides a forum for the issues and viewpoints reflected in both traditional and contemporary Asian art and in Asia today.

About Asia Society Southern California
Established in Los Angeles in 1985, Asia Society Southern California (ASSC) is ideally situated at the gateway to the Asia-Pacific region. ASSC has played a pivotal role through creative programs and activities in increasing shared knowledge, enhancing dialogue, and furthering cultural exchanges transcending regional boundaries. As part of the global Asia Society, which was founded more than 60 years ago in New York City, ASSC has launched many creative initiatives and programs addressing current issues of importance across the fields of the arts, culture, policy, business, and education.