Whilst more youth are increasingly coming to Beijing to pursue their dreams, what do the older folks dream about in a small village tucked away in the mountains just 90 km away? In a village where the average age is in the mid-50s, the folks are instead of fighting to survive in these revolution times, are now struggling to maintain dying customs, including their own version of traditional opera.

Screenplay Joanna Vasquez Arong, Drew Hanratty
Photography (colour) Joanna Vasquez Arong
Editing Joanna Vasquez Arong
Music Drew Hanratty
Production Joanna Vasquez Arong
Year of production 2006
Running time 5’
Format DV CAM

Joanna Vasquez Arong

Prior to working with films, she worked in various fields around the world including finance and economic development. She pursued degrees at Boston College and the London School of Economics. She started working with documentaries concentrating on social issues-related stories in the Philippines. She moved to Beijing in 2002 and is now freelancing, pursuing stories on the dynamic changes taking place in Beijing and its effects on society. The Temple (2005), about a man led to Beijing living in a temple, was selected for many international festivals, In Search of a Better Life (2002), a piece exploring the HIV/AIDS awareness amongst migrant workers, was aired on Philippine national TV.