Profile of Sun Jianjiang:
Sun Jianjiang, born in 1981, Han nationality.
Graduated from Harbin textile and garment industry school in 2000
Serving as the art editor of 9:61: A Record of The Authors of DV Independent Video of the Post-80s Generation in China by Sanlian publishing house in 2004.
Producing more than ten online films for the film Guoing.com and Joy.com in 2006
Filming drama columns for Heilongjiang satellite TV in 2009
Studying in the literature department of Beijing Film Academy in 2010
Engaged in film editing in Beijing, editing movie trailers and promotional films for 1942, American dreams in China, Personal tailor, Starry Starry Night, etc in 2011
1. Low-End Population deals with the economic impact of Covid-19, especially on the working classes. It’s a brilliant film which presents a bleak image of the struggle of the “low-end population” to survive. What made you want to make this film?
A: Because of Covid-19, I, a filmmaker working in Tier 1 cities like Beijing, had to stay in my hometown in Northeast China. I witnessed that almost all my friends at my age were in difficult times. The periodical depression of China’s economy has brought forth evident shortage of income. The sudden outbreak of the epidemic made the life of my friends worse. One friend drank too much but was killed in a traffic accident by the roadside. Someone else jumped off a building... In one word, people are not merely lacking money. They actually question the meaning of life but can’t find a way to vent their sorrow. This story of low-class young people in the background of the epidemic is to reveal their helplessness and confusion in the powerful system. They have lost their vitality so early.
2. The film is set in the Northern Chinese city of Harbin. This city is far away from the famous cities of Beijing and Shanghai and is almost on the Russian border. It’s also director Sun Jianjiang’s home town. What can you tell us about Harbin and how was it affected by the Coronavirus?
A: Harbin is one of the earliest big cities that have entered modern industrial civilization. Its foundation of heavy industry is specially profound. The people here once had stable incomes. They had pursuit for quality life. But with the southward migration of industries due to the transformation of China’s economy, the corruption of people in power in Northeast China, the outbreak of Covid-19, together with the weak local administration in face of the most repetitions of the epidemic, the population of the young and middle-aged generation is dropping dramatically. The people staying in Harbin are just contented of basic living. They have no ability and willingness to pursue the quality life any more. They feel discouraged because of repression over long time. So, they suspect their lives. They start to harm each other and take it as the only thing in their life. Harbin, a modernized city in the past, is now ruled by “the law of jungle” where the weak are the prey of the strong.
3. Early on in the film someone mentions the “widening gap between the haves and the have nots”. This gap is getting bigger in all countries and Coronavirus seems to have made it worse. Many people in western countries are blaming globalism and capitalism. Do you have hope that things can get better for ordinary people?
A: China has experienced high speed development and prosperity for ten years with real estate as the pillar growth business. However, the extremely high housing price has sucked dry the wealth of several generations of a family. It has also occupied the development space of other industries. But after a short period of profiting, Chinese economic structure still lacks core competitiveness. At the same time, major economies in the world has initiated the new societal development stage of “coexistence with the virus” while the “zero-infection” epidemic prevention policy is still executed in China. As a result, China’s economy is stagnated. Since the reform and opening up to the outside world, China has never experienced economic stagnation. Although the epidemic is controlled in China with extreme means by now, social pressure is not relieved but accumulated like in a pressure cooker. Chinese people have no confidence for how much pressure they can bear and feel quite upset. If we live through the economic stagnation period and master the core competitiveness of the new generation, I believe that Chinese economy will go further or will even be the greatest economy in China as Chinese people are diligent and have strong desire for material life. But the progress is full of uncertainty.
4. Director Sun Jianjiang also appears in this film as an actor. What challenges and problems does acting and directing create?
A: I grew up in an impoverished family of workers in a state-owned enterprise in Northeast China. I experienced the poverty as my parents were laid off and the hopeless situation when my family had severe sickness. I took the opportunity of the economic development in the recent decade and upgraded my class. My life is like a screenplay with ups and downs. So, as an independent film investor, I think the advantage of this film in practicability is itself. Compared to the young actors with professional education in acting, I think I am most possibly a suitable candidate who can demonstrate the depth of human nature. Meanwhile, considering my screenwriting competence accumulated in the Department of Literature, Beijing Film Academy, I decided to give a play to my own potentiality. I try to combine my acting with my script to make up the shortcomings of shooting techniques and devices.
5. Low-End Population is a unique and very exciting film. We are all very interested to know what future projects you will be working on. Can you tell us what you’re going to be doing next?
A: With profound culture but gloomy current situation, Northeast China is like a desolate nobleman who forces himself to look strong although he feels weak. Such temperament has aroused the interest of the audience in culture and fashion elements. I will try my best to dig out the unique cultural flavor of my hometown. The next work is a crime film set in the Harbin Industrial Zone. The temperament of Low End Population is also an experiment for the coming feature film. I wish this experimental short film Low End Population could be a stepping stone to success for the coming feature film.
Interviewed by: David James Bell Editted by: Li Yingdeng
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