ACROSS THE PLATEAU
Zhang Zeming and Paul Liu
Ronin Films
Adventure Documentary
Australia/China, 2007, 95 min.
In Cantonese with English subtitles

Sponsored by the Australian Embassy, Washington DC

Fri., Aug. 8, 2 PM, at the Drama Workshop, Salem Fine Arts Center

Synopsis from the Filmmaker:

This is the extraordinary story of seven retired Chinese men and women who embark on a 3,100 kilometer cycling journey from Lanzhou, a smoggy industrial city in northwest China, across the Tibetan plateau to Everest Base Camp. Among the cyclists are a veteran explorer and stroke survivor, a soldier-turned-musician, an inventor with a car parking system patent under his belt and a first-generation rubber factory worker who has just recovered from a year-long poison-induced paralysis. The seven cyclists all survived traumatic experiences during the Cultural Revolution, and their life experiences contribute to their determination and stamina in tackling adventures late in life. From their stories, we witness how they find fulfillment by undertaking a grueling personal challenge.

You'll never look at a bowl of rice the same way. Fantastic scenery and personalities. Original score by Kelly Tang. -SC