Spilled Water

The title of Chinese-American filmmaker May May Tchao's documentary refers to an old saying in China that equated the birth of a daughter with spilled water. But do such barbaric notions still exist in the new modern China? To find out, Tchao returned to her place of birth to look at how China's economic transformation has impacted the lives of the nation's women. Despite becoming a dominant force in the global economy—which has opened new professional opportunities to women, primarily in urban settings—Chinese society is not entirely comfortable in fully embracing Western-style gender equality. Still, there are plenty of Chinese women eager to dismantle traditional barriers, and Tchao focuses on four from different socioeconomic situations: a high-powered international attorney, a divorced factory worker, a teacher in a rural school district, and a folk singer from the Dongzu ethnic minority who balances her performance schedule with duties on the family farm. DVD extras include bonus shorts and a discussion guide. Offering cogent insights into the role of women in contemporary China, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)