Join us for a special screening of Fen, the latest work by award-winning independent documentary filmmaker Jiang Nengjie. This powerful documentary captures the everyday struggles of Li and Lianzi, a migrant couple navigating life in a Chinese megacity while striving for a future that keeps their family together.

Their elder son, Manshan, faces the high-stakes challenge of the high school entrance exam, a test that will shape his educational prospects. Meanwhile, the parents fight to accumulate enough points under local policies to secure a household registration—both scores determining whether the family will reunite or remain divided. Through intimate storytelling, Fen sheds light on the emotional and bureaucratic barriers that define the lives of migrant families in China.

Following the screening, WSU staff and faculty member Min Yu will lead a panel of distinguished Chinese scholars in a discussion on the film’s themes, the structural challenges faced by migrant families, and the broader implications for education and social mobility in contemporary China.

Chinese Visiting Faculty: 

Dr. Jun Teng, Beijing Normal University 

Dr. Xin Xiang, Beijing Normal University 

Dr. Yun You, East China Normal University 

Dr. Liang Cheng, East China Normal University 

Dr. Xin Yang, Northwest China Normal University 

Dr. Miao Li, Shandong University

Additionally, we will welcome filmmaker Jiang Nengjie via Zoom for a live Q&A, providing a unique opportunity to engage with his creative process and insights.

Schedule of Evening:

5:00 pm - 5:30 pm | Pre-glow refreshments and mingle

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm | Airing of documentary

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm | Live Q&A with filmmaker Jiang Nengjie and panel