At the end of the 1950s, the Chinese government condemned thousands of citizens - considered ‘right wing dissidents’ due their past activities, criticisms of the Communist Party or simply their middle-class backgrounds and families - to forced labour camps. Deported for re-education to the north-west of the country, in the middle of the Gobi Desert, thousands of miles from their families, they encountered conditions of absolute destitution. As a result of backbreaking physical labour, an unrelentingly extreme climate and the most meager of provisions, many of them perished. The Ditch recounts their fate - an unflinching account of the very extremes of the human condition. Based on “Goodbye, Jiabiangou”, a novel by YANG Xianhui, and on testimony by TI Zhongzheng and the other survivors.

2010:

Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica - Biennale Venezia - Italie

Toronto International Film Festival - Canada

Pusan - Corée du Sud

Abu Dhabi - Emirats Arabes Unis

Festival du nouveau cinéma - Canada

Mostra de Sao Paulo - Brésil

Stockholm International Film Festival - Suède

Festival des trois continents à Nantes - France

Talinn black nights film fest - Estonie Tokyo Clockworx - Japon

2011:

Festival des droits humains à Genève - Suisse

Hong Kong Film Festival - Chine

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - Espagne

Era new horizons IFF - Pologne

Munich Film Festival - Allemagne

Sydney Film Festival - Australie

Cinema South Festival - Israël

Mirror International Film Festival - Russie

Febiofest - République tchèque

San Sebastian - Espagne