Deschutes Public Library

The Last Clan

eng

videorecording

The Last Clan

956906632

Originally produced by Empty Mind Films in 2009

64

They are a model of socialism. Living as a collective and as equals in a family-based commune. They are the Hakka from the mountainous region of South East China. Their home is a fortress-like structure called the Tulou, where as many as five hundred family members share an ancient way of lifé. ђجWe all live in the same Tulou and we have the same ancestorśђح says one 82 year old resident of one of the most beautiful of the Tulous called Tianluokenǵ ђجBut the young ones are all leaving to work outside noẃ.ђح The Tulou is one of the worĺdђةs most unique buildings and life in the countryside can be idyllic. But as China modernizes and its cities expand, life in the Tulou is slowly disintegrating. As the young move away to find work, only old family members are left to endure the hardships of rural life. One man chooses to avoid extinction by transforming his massive Tulou into a popular tourist hot spot́.ђحIt can be said that I was the first person to develop tourism here, no came before thiśђح says Tulou owner Lin Rigenǵ ђح Now young people are not leaving the village. More than 160 rooms are allocated to the government tourist boaŕd.ђح The trend has grown and the Hakka are quickly flooded with strangers walking among their homes. It is estimated that over three million tourists will visit the Tulous in 2010. The local residents soon realize that tourism is a two-headed monster that brings promises of wealth but threatens to destroy their ancient culturé. ђجWe villagers get nothing from thiśђح says an angry locaĺ ђجwe do not get a spoon from ticket sales, all the money goes back to the tourist boaŕd.ђح One thing they all agree upon, is that young people are coming back to the Tulou life and more are staying behind selling souvenirs to the visitors. Today the Tulou and the Hakka are in danger of extinction, as society fragments and splits with new found freedom and new found wealth for the new generations of Chinese. This is the remarkable story of a clańђةs struggle to survive

live action