Truth and Resistance. Aesthetics, Production, and Marginalized Voices in Independent Chinese Documentary

Abstract

This paper delves into the significance of independent Chinese documentary filmmaking, focusing on the aesthetics, production, and representation of marginalized subjects. Beginning with the influence of direct cinema, the study examines how the unobtrusive presence of the camera functions as a key documentary method by Chinese independents, who claim to capture reality in a more authentic and truthful manner. Production is complex, involving a delicate balance between leveraging state resources and resisting official narratives. The paper discusses the blurring boundaries between "official" and "unofficial" filmmaking in China’s post-socialist landscape. Moreover, it investigates how independent documentaries often focus on marginalized groups, to challenge the official "lies" behind the ideological-oriented rhetoric. However, the ethical implications are also critically addressed, particularly regarding issues of exploitation and the romanticization of the subaltern.