Lost Course

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Lost Course

2019

2h 59m

Documentary

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8 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Embedding herself in the village of Wukan, southern China for several years starting in 2011, first time documentarian Jill Li witnessed an unprecedented experiment in local democracy. Corrupt officials had illegally sold villagers' land, but the villagers decided to fight back. The documentary is divided into two halves: the first, "Protests", depicts the grassroots activities of Wukan residents as they work to reverse the land sales and gain a substantial measure of control over their local territory. We see how the villagers themselves learn to organize elections, form alliances, and win support. Part two, "After Protests", confronts the collapse of idealism as the newly elected village government finds itself mired in the same kind of corrupt dealings they had originally condemned. Li reveals the complexities of their triumphs and setbacks from the inside. Her astonishingly intimate, sympathetic and fair-minded access to the events' major players reveals Chinese local politics with three-dimensional passion and energy.

Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

Though its length is daunting and not always well-managed, "Lost Course" is nevertheless an extraordinary achievement in condensing years of footage into so absorbing and affecting a journey.

Mar 6, 2021

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Ben Kenigsberg

New York Times

Broadly adhering to a vérité style, Li builds a case that active civic engagement in China inevitably leads to trouble - or else further corruption.

Mar 4, 2021

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William Repass

Slant Magazine

What distinguishes the film from ordinary journalism, and what constitutes its intervention in reality, is a difference in timescale.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 28, 2021

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Bill Bria

Vague Visages

Lost Course may appear to be distancing and remote on first glance, but through its journalistic approach, it becomes uncomfortably intimate.

Jun 6, 2023

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Rob Rector

Film Threat

Despite its runtime, Lost Course maintains a level of urgency and honesty that gives us a granular look at the political process and the enduring fight for equity inherent in us all.

Rated: 8.5/10

Mar 6, 2021

Full Review

Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

A fascinating glimpse into working-class Chinese politics.

Mar 3, 2021

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Jill Li

Director

Chai Sheng

Producer

Luke To

Producer

Peter Yam

Producer

Jill Li

Cinematographer

Jill Li

Film Editor

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Synopsis

Embedding herself in the village of Wukan, southern China for several years starting in 2011, first time documentarian Jill Li witnessed an unprecedented experiment in local democracy. Corrupt officials had illegally sold villagers' land, but the villagers decided to fight back. The documentary is divided into two halves: the first, "Protests", depicts the grassroots activities of Wukan residents as they work to reverse the land sales and gain a substantial measure of control over their local territory. We see how the villagers themselves learn to organize elections, form alliances, and win support. Part two, "After Protests", confronts the collapse of idealism as the newly elected village government finds itself mired in the same kind of corrupt dealings they had originally condemned. Li reveals the complexities of their triumphs and setbacks from the inside. Her astonishingly intimate, sympathetic and fair-minded access to the events' major players reveals Chinese local politics with three-dimensional passion and energy.

Director: Jill Li
Producer: Chai Sheng, Luke To, Peter Yam
Production Co: Human Images
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Chinese
Runtime: 2h 59m

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