This document provides background information on international education and the cultural context of the film Dam Street. It includes quotes on the goals of international education, a synopsis of the film, and a mini-lecture introducing the Sichuan province of China where the film is set. Students analyze clips from the film to identify the cultural setting and discuss themes through classroom activities analyzing character and cultural context.

1. International Education for High School Students . . . through film PARTICIPANT GUIDE Putting the World into World-Class Education: Asia Society’s Forum for Policymakers and Practitioners Washington DC July 10-12, 2008

8. A rural village in the earthquake zone . . . Jinli Street in the capital city of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Photograph by BenBen, May 29, 2005. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons. URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jingli.jpeg Dujiangyan Irrigation System, World Cultural Heritage Site. Photograph by BenBen, June 15, 2004, courtesy Wikimedia Commons. URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image: Dujiangyan.jpg Jingjiang River and Anshun Peaceful and Fluent Bridge in Chengdu, China Photograph by BenBen, July, 2004. URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image: Jingjiang.JPEG

10. Profile of China SIZE: Fourth largest country on earth, after Russia, Canada and the US POPULATION: 1.3 billion (2005 estimate) RELIGION: Less than 6% of the population belong to state-sanctioned religious groups (Buddhist, Daoist, Muslim, Catholic, Protestant) LANGUAGES: Chinese with numerous dialects categorized into six major groups, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghaiese LITERACY: 90% of total Population UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: Estimated at 10% in urban areas, but as high as 23% when taking into account rural and underemployed workers. Source: http://www.rand.org/commentary/070704AWSJ.html CLIMATE: Ranges from sub-arctic in the north to tropical in the south. As many as five typhoons (regional name for strong tropical cyclones; similar storms in Western hemisphere are called hurricanes) per year along southern and eastern coastlines; flooding, tidal waves, earthquakes. INDUSTRIES: Heavy industries include iron and steel, petroleum refineries, machine building, weapons, automobiles and cement; textiles and clothing manufacture; consumer electronics and telecommunications; food processing Courtesy of The General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.

13. Directed by Li Yu In Mandarin and Sichuan Dialect, with subtitles in English CHARACTERS Yun The main character Wang Feng Yun’s boyfriend Xiao-yong Boy who lives across the dam Teacher Su Yun’s mother, a teacher Wang Zhengyue Wang Feng’s sister, a doctor SYNOPSIS Sixteen-year-old Yun finds herself pregnant, at a time of rigid moral codes in China. Her pregnancy is announced to the entire school and she and her boyfriend, Wang Feng, are expelled. Wang leaves town after convincing his sister to help Yun give birth, then give the baby up for adoption. Yun is told that the baby died. Ten years later, Yun still lives in the small riverside town. Despite her training as a Sichuan Opera singer, the only work she can find is as the lead vocalist for a local song and dance troupe. Her relationship with her mother remains strained, and her love life, an affair with a married man, is even less comforting. Her only real companion is Xiao-yong, an inventive and charming young boy who lives across the dam. Xiao-yong follows her everywhere, fiercely protecting her from the judgmental community, and keeping her company, even as her friends tease. Suddenly, Yun accepts a marriage proposal that threatens her relationship with her “little brother” – and any chance she has to make a better life. The boy intervenes, forcing Yun to confront her past. ABOUT THE DIRECTOR Li Yu was born in 1973 in Shangdong Province in Northern China. She earned a degree in Chinese literature and became one of the top TV hosts in China. After moving to Beijing she began working on documentaries, joining CCTV's (China Central Television) feature program "Life Space." Her documentaries include Sisters (1999). Her first feature film, Fish and Elephant (2001) was internationally-acclaimed. Dam Street is her second feature film. DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT “ I always maintain that this is a film full of hope. I say this because it tells a story about searching for a way out. Metaphorically speaking, Xiao-yong is like a thirsty person suddenly finding a cup of water. I use a method quite close to traditional narrative to relate a contemporary story about a woman subject to the overwhelming pressure of an unchanging tradition.” Dam Street ( Hong Yan ) │ China │ 2005 │ 93 minutes

16. Scene and Character Analysis: Student Handout Synopsis : A brief or condensed statement presenting a combined or general view of something ; a table, or set of paragraphs or headings, so arranged as to exhibit all parts or divisions of a subject or work at one view . . . (Source: The Oxford English Dictionary . “ synopsis, n .” The Oxford English Dictionary . 2 nd ed. 1989. OED Online . Oxford University Press. 4 Apr 2000. URL: http://dictionary.oed.com.proxy.uchicago.edu/cgi/entry/50245474) Create a synopsis of the first scene in the clip, from the appearance of the main character until the “cut”. Describe the setting. Describe the characters you see as the scene opens. What does Yun, the main character do in this scene? What do you think motivates her actions? Who is speaking? To whom? Who is listening? How do other characters interact with Yun? Synopsis