Monday March 24th | IB-1008 | 19:00 | Film Screening with Director & Cast + Q&A

Beneath the Rubber Trees
Director: Qu Song
110 minutes | 2021

This screening will be a first of its kind. It will feature material shot in 1997 that discusses the decision-making process of transitioning a Jinuo ethnic village away from traditions rooted in food sovereignty and sustainability and towards a culture of monocrop rubber tree plantation production. Beneath the Rubber Trees captures how the community has transitioned over the last 25-30 years. The film reflects on the cultural pressures exerted on the Jinuo community, showing how traditional lifestyles are increasingly shaped by external influences. Through personal stories, Beneath the Rubber Trees offers an insightful look at the intersections of labor, culture, and social change in modern China, capturing the impact of assimilation and the transformation of local communities under broader societal forces.

We will also be joined by the film’s protagonist (Mrs. He) for the Q&A and ongoing conversation that is left in the wake of this engaging film.