Feature film tells story of Yushu quake children
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A new feature film, Kelsang Metok, tells the story of an 8-year-old Tibetan girl, who lost her entire family in the earthquake that hit Yushu in Qinghai Province on April 14 last year. The psychological trauma causes her to lose her memory and the ability to speak. But with the help of a little boy called Tao Tao, a female TV news reporter, and a Red Cross psychologist, she finally begins to talk again.
The cast and crew of the film visited the quake-hit area to experience at first hand the emotions of the traumatized survivors, and especially the pain, confusion and depression of the children. They see their film as a positive contribution to the reconstruction effort and to the recreation of Yushu as a spiritual home.
At a Beijing press conference to launch the film, Jidi Majia, a member of the Qinghai Provincial Committee of the Communist Party, said Kelsang Metok focused on the mental suffering of the children bereaved by the earthquake and relief efforts carried out by the public. The April 14 earthquake had not only done terrible physical damage to the region but had cast a shadow on the survivors, especially the children. For a long time after the quake children would wake up in the middle of the night crying. Some were too depressed to speak.
"Houses and schools can be rebuilt, but the psychological effects on the children affected by the disaster can be deep and long-lasting. They need support to rebuild their belief in life. People and communities must pull together to support these children in their healing process," Zhang Yinjun of the China Charity Federation told reporters.
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The cast and crew of the film Kelsang Metok |
The film is among a series of activities organized by Qinghai Province to mark the first anniversary of the 7.1-magnitude Yushu earthquake. The quake killed 2,298 people and injured more than 12,000 in the remote, mainly ethnic Tibetan region. 270 people are still missing.
Jidi Majia said that although the film depicted great suffering its message was ultimately one of hope.
"We believe, under the unified leadership of the central and local authorities, based on the unique Tibetan cultural and natural environment, inspired by our outstanding traditional culture and vivid national life, with the support of artists, poets and other cultural workers, works of literature and art are sure to thrive. Yushu will be rebuilt into a home of cultural harmony full of joy and warmth," he said.
Kelsang Metok was co-produced by the Publicity Department of Qinghai provincial government, the Qinghai International Culture Association, the Qinghai Lake Scenic Area Protection and Promotion Bureau, and the Beijing Tianchuang Culture Company.
