FILM SCREENINGS

Karamay

2010. China. Directed by Xu Xin. In December 1994 a fire broke out in the Karamay Friendship Theater in Urumqi, killing 323 people, 288 of whom were school children performing for a special event. Government officials were ushered out, while the children were locked inside. Interviewing over 60 people related to the victims and showing video footage shot at the time of the disaster, the film slowly unravels the details of the incident, and provides a platform for the families to speak and be heard. Denied an official public apology, many of the victim’s family members have suffered their own physical and emotional trauma. Chinese Independent Cinema. In Chinese; English subtitles. 356 min.; 15 min. intermission min.