Nu Shu: A Hidden Language of Women in China

A hidden language, complete with alphabet, developed by women of the Nu Shu region of China, Nu Shu's existence--which was almost completely eradicated in the Cultural Revolution--was long denied by the Chinese government, which claimed that it couldn't be a language since it was only understood by women, and suspected it was a secret espionage code (they were half-right--women did use Nu Shu as feminist subversion of a misogynist society). Yue-Qing Yang's documentary interviews Huan-yi Yang, the last surviving woman known to be able to read and write in Nu Shu, and probes into Chinese culture, addressing such diverse topics as arranged marriage, bound feet, and Communist repression. Despite the important and, at times, emotionally powerful content, however, Nu Shu feels slow, and it will feel much slower for general audiences. Still, this is recommended for larger public and academic collections with extensive holdings on feminism or Chinese culture. Aud: C, P. (K. G. Schneider)