Virtual Theatrical Release of Jill Li’s Award-Winning Documentary LOST COURSE March 5, 2021
Updated: Feb 22, 2021
Premiere virtual engagements at Film at Lincoln Center, Laemmle Theatres, and BAMPFA
"Engrossing, revealing and bittersweet; sweeps the viewer into the center of a bold, fledgling grassroots democratic movement in the surprising setting of rural China." —Deborah Young The Hollywood Reporter
When corrupt officials illegally sell villagers’ land in China, the villagers rise up in an unprecedented experiment in democracy in first-time documentarian Jill Li’s LOST COURSE -- Winner, Best Documentary Golden Horse Awards 2020, and Official Selections of International Documentary Festival Amsterdam and Hong Kong Asian Film Festival. From the dGenerate Collection, Icarus Films is proud to release the film in virtual theaters starting Friday, March 5th at Film at Lincoln Center in New York, Laemmle Theatres in Los Angeles and UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive.
Embedding herself in a small fishing village in southern China for several years starting in 2011, Li witnessed an unprecedented experiment in local democracy. Corrupt officials had illegally sold villagers' land, but the villagers decided to fight back.
The documentary is divided into two halves: the first, "Protests," depicts the grassroots activities of the residents as they work to reverse the land sales and gain a substantial measure of control over their local territory. We see how the villagers themselves learn to organize free and fair elections, form alliances, and win support. Part two, "After Protests," confronts the collapse of idealism as the newly elected village government finds itself mired in the same kind of corrupt dealings they had originally condemned.
Li reveals the complexities of their triumphs and setbacks from the inside. Her astonishingly intimate, sympathetic and fair-minded access to the events' major players reveals Chinese local politics with three-dimensional passion and energy.
“The ups and downs of the lives of the villagers serve as a magnifying glass to help us take a closer look at China's social movements and its complexity,” said director Jill Li.
Don't miss the virtual theatrical US release of LOST COURSE at the following venues:
Lincoln Center (available March 5)
BAMPFA (available March 5)
Laemmle Theaters (available March 5)
Time & Space Limited (available March 12)
Rose Theater (available March 12)
Neptune Movie House (available March 12)
Landmark Peoria (available March 12)
Jill Li is an independent documentary director, illustrator and ex-journalist. Her work focuses on individual circumstances and choices in the midst of societal changes. “LOST COURSE” is her directorial feature length documentary debut, awarded at the 57th Golden Horse for Best Documentary, selected for the 2020 IDFA Frontlight Tomorrow’s Classic section, 2021 TIDF Asian Horizon competition, Vancouver International Film Festival 2019 and Hong Kong Asian Film Festival 2019.
Director: Jill Li
Executive Producer: Luke To
Producers: Chai Sheng, Peter Yam
Cinematographer: Jill Li
Editors: Luke To, Jill LI, Lau Sze Wai
Release Year: 2021
Copyright Year: 2019
Running Time: 180 minutes
Language: Mandarin and English
Subtitles: Mandarin and English
Format: Digital, Color
Country: Hong Kong
An Icarus Films release: http://icarusfilms.com/df-course
The film’s focus on how grassroots structures evolve after an initial victory raises an interesting parallel with professional roles where formal processes have to survive changing circumstances. In practice, governance rarely depends only on the original rules; records, responsibilities, communication and decisions made after a dispute or transition can reveal whether a system actually works under pressure. That same issue appears in fields where a contract administrator career develops beyond document handling into monitoring obligations, maintaining an audit trail and recognising when an apparently settled issue is becoming a wider risk. The contrast between the villagers’ initial political success and the later problems also highlights how difficult it can be to preserve accountability once new responsibilities are introduced. Documentary storytelling can…
Jill Li’s LOST COURSE sounds like a thought-provoking documentary that offers a deeply personal look at community, social change, grassroots activism, and local democracy. The film’s focus on the experiences of villagers makes it especially interesting for viewers who enjoy independent films, award-winning documentaries, and real-life stories about society and resilience. Beyond entertainment, documentaries like this can encourage reflection, emotional awareness, and a broader understanding of different communities and cultures. Maintaining overall well-being also involves staying active, building healthy routines, and making time for personal reflection. For practical wellness ideas, explore Fitness & Daily Movement for exercise and healthy lifestyle tips.
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