Why are the students of Hong Kong willing to risk their lives to uphold their sovereignty?

One man’s incredible story of suffering from inside one of China’s most notorious labour camps will open your eyes to what’s at stake for the people of Hong Kong if they fail.Join us for a premiere screening of award-winning documentary – Letter from MasanjiaThe story of how a political prisoner’s SOS note miraculously led to the closure of China’s entire labor camp system. Following the screening will be a discussion with a panel of experts and hear one lady’s touching story of how she survived a Chinese labour camp.

WHEN: 9th December

WHERE: State Library Theatre, 25 Francis Street, Perth Cultural Centre

Parking & Transport

TIME: 6:30 PM for registration and light refreshments, screening begins at 7:00 PM

DISCUSSION: Following the film we will be hosting a Q&A session with our expert panel, including a labor camp survivor.

About The Movie

Having recently qualified for the 2019 Oscars, the award-winning feature documentary Letter from Masanjia is coming to the State Library Theatre in Perth! It tells the story of how a desperate SOS note from a Chinese prisoner is found by a US mom in her Halloween decorations, and the incredible events that led to the shutdown of China's labor camp system.

It begins when mom of two, Julie Keith, finds an SOS note in a box of “Made in China” Halloween decorations from an Oregon Kmart. The desperate note was written by a political prisoner named Sun Yi from inside China’s notorious Masanjia labor camp. On the crumpled page that traveled over 5000 miles, he details being jailed for his spiritual beliefs and how he is being subjected to torture and brainwashing tactics. His message goes viral and miraculously leads to the closure of China’s entire labor camp system. But their story is far from over.

Peabody-winning Canadian filmmaker Leon Lee is not welcome in his native country because of his prior films about China’s human rights abuses. So, in Letter from Masanjia, he teaches Sun Yi to use camera equipment via Skype. For over a year, Sun Yi secretly captures harrowing footage of his daily life as a human rights defender, leading up to his tense run from the Chinese authorities. Meanwhile, just outside Portland, Julie Keith is struggling with her own dilemmas as a mother newly embroiled in this cause. Together, these unlikely heroes expose China’s ongoing persecution against millions whose ideology differs from the Chinese government.

view the trailer at letterfrommasanjia.com

Q&A session after film screening.

Refreshments from 6:30pm.