(Clearwisdom.net) As flowers blossomed one after another during the refreshing Spring season, the annual Best Graduate Works at American University opened to the public. This event featured forty outstanding student works selected from those of all graduates at the University. The School of Communications had five works selected, and the documentary "The Hope" by Film and Media Arts senior Wang Jingwei was recognized as outstanding. The program title read, "The story of a Falun Gong practitioner."
During the screening on April 21, many professors were impressed by this documentary. After seeing Canadian practitioner Zion's physical and spiritual benefits from practicing Falun Gong, and his improved responsibility to society and understanding of life, they recognized the miraculous and great power of Falun Dafa. Upon seeing that 36 western practitioners went to Tiananmen Square to appeal for Falun Dafa, they were impressed by this great feat. The audience strongly condemned the Chinese Communist Party's brutal persecution of practitioners, and many professors suggested that Wang Jingwei make this documentary available to more social groups so that more people have an opportunity to learn about the persecution. One professor told her, "Your safety must have been endangered! This documentary is banned in China. However, it is very important to Chinese people." To accommodate differences between western and eastern culture and arts, Wang Jingwei made two versions, each 30 minutes long. One adapted a more eastern style, while the other is for western viewers. The content of the two versions is basically the same, though the styles are different. As some professors expressed their wish to have a copy of the film after the screening, Wang gave copies of the different styles to two professors.
This is not the first time that films about Falun Gong played at American University. Sandstorm, the award winning drama which exposed the brutal persecution of Falun Gong, was played on March 24. Students and faculty members packed the theater during the screening. Michael Mahonen, director of the film, came to AU and answered questions after the screening.
April 23, 2005