The District Councillor
North American Premiere 
Documentary | Hong Kong | 2008 | 49 minutes
Director: Chan Wai-yee
Producer: Ben Tsiang
Language: Cantonese + English subtitles
Produced by CNEX Foundation
“Without fire burning inside your heart, you would not take such job,” said Yin Zhaojian during his election campaign.
Synopsis
2003 was a rather turbulent year for Hong Kong. Economic turmoil, government crisis, the outbreak of SARS, all these drove 50 million people to demonstrate on the street on July 1st to oppose the adoption of Article 23 of the Basic Law and to demand the resignation of the Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.
Against this social background, this documentary tells the story of a young social worker Yin Zhaojian, who gave up his stable life to run for election and fight for social justice. In 2003, he ran for district councilor. Being aware of the indifferent attitude of Hong Kong people to politics, he felt that someone had to stand up to make some changes.
After being elected as the district councilor, he participated again in the 2004 Legislative Council Election but failed. In the film, the new Legislative Council Election for 2008 is just around the corner. Will he try again? Is the fire within his heart still burning? Will the reality four years later again crush his dream?
The Filmmaker
Chan WAI-YEE (Dirctor)
Wai-yee is currently studying Comparative Literature and Sociology at the University of Hong Kong. At the age of 17, she made her first documentary, Gay or Not, about homosexuality in high school. This film won International Young Film Makers Award at Up-and-Coming International Film Festival in Hannover and received Honorable Mention at the Bangkok International Film Festival. It was also selected by more than 10 international film festivals, including the 2004 Taipei Film Festival and Hong Kong International Film Festival.
Producer Ben Tsiang is in attendance.
