Deschutes Public Library

Karamay

eng

videorecording

Karamay

Originally produced by Xu Xin in 2010

355

On December 8, 1994, the Karamay Municipal Education Commission in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region convened 796 students and teachers at the Karamay Friendship Theater for a performance. The theater, built in 1958 and renovated in 1992, was a city landmark and the center of its political activities. On the day of the performance, a fire broke out causing 323 deaths and over 130 injuries. The victims were mostly young children; all the municipal leaders survived. The government has since forbidden any memorial activities in front of the theater. This film interweaves archival footage and personal accounts from parents, teachers, and survivors ranging from descriptions of the scene to skeptical reflections on society, ethnicity, the education system, and the law. Winner of four prizes at the **Locarno International Film Festival**. *"Xu Xin's detailed investigation of this tragedy restores the truth of a historical event and reveals the disappointing response of society and the courts."* - ***Ai Weiwei***

live action