HI VILLAGE

“Sun tackles the source subject of the story with great care and does a great job at covering many perspectives to produce a compelling document.”

At the foot of the mountains in southern Anhui, China, surrounded by mountains, the ancient village is closely related to the mountains and rivers. With the implementation of the government's rural revitalization plan, changes in the local area have followed.

What better backdrop to set this inspiring documentary than Anhui, China. A place that most people would have never heard of but after seeing this film will definitely look into it.

Director Binghui David Sun takes us on an exciting journey into the mountains of China to explore an ancient village full of culture and history. Sun tackles the source subject of the story with great care and does a great job at covering many perspectives to produce a compelling document.

What strikes you first with the film is the stunning visuals and breathtaking scenery. The use of drone shots really helped to capture the scale of the area Sun was focusing on. Without the aerial aspect the film wouldn’t have hit as well as it does. However the filming itself is also of a high standard and well crafted. With such a stunning setting to film in it’s no surprise the team was able to capture such great visuals.

There was a lot of material to work with which in turn showcases the edit itself which keeps a steady pace and doesn’t run too long for the sake of it. This helped keep the message to the point and clear for wider audiences to resonate with.

The interviews from the villagers are captured well, allowing for each of them to deliver authentic and genuine accounts that help to create the story. Sun and the team clearly had a strong relationship with everyone they worked with as it shows on-screen.

This film shows great promise from Sun and the team. It’s a wonderful film that will educate and inspire audiences in an area of the world few know about. It’s a compelling film in an incredible setting with a solid message…

— APEX Film Awards