Carol Liu Films, an independent film production company founded by a Stanford University graduate, has produced a documentary of one doctor’s mission to provide healthcare for a rural Chinese community in Ningxia. Capturing the worldwide phenomenon of humanitarianism and resilience, Carol Liu presents a unique perspective on China, where she spent a significant portion of her childhood. We talked with Carol to learn more about the project and the inspiration behind it.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your involvement with this project. I have been coming to China since the 1980s, ever since I was a little girl. I feel like an elderly grandmother sometimes when I say this, but I saw the days when there were only bikes in the street and when the FEC was still the reigning currency for those with foreign passports! I’ve felt a life calling to come back to China ever since my childhood and my wish is to develop Chinese stories for world audiences. Restoring the Light is my first feature and as a documentary, it is my attempt to capture a part of China I feel deserves greater attention in both the Chinese media and that of the West.

How did you get the idea for Restoring the Light? I wanted to make a film about China’s budding humanitarian consciousness as part of the plan to document life in rural China. I came into contact with Dr. Zhang through the China Foundation for Disabled Persons cataract initiative. When I met Dr. Zhang, I felt he was a special doctor who had a very unique humanitarian awareness, made all the more rare by the current environment of Chinese healthcare today.

What made you focus specifically on eyecare? While eyecare is one aspect of the film, the movie touches on much more, disabilities, the elderly, education, rural and youth development being some of the issues forming the backdrop of Restoring the Light.

What kinds of things do you have to keep in mind when shooting a documentary in China? There are often more rules and regulations than you may expect. In general, I believe it is important to be respectful of local practices and local culture. It’s important to weigh both your own preconceived notions and those of the local crew against the reality that is unfolding before you. Of course, reality is subjective but I think it’s important to be open and to be aware.

Have you done any documentaries like this before? How is this one unique? I’ve produced two short documentaries before in the US. They were very different in subject matter and scope.

What has been your most rewarding experience while filming a movie? One of the most satisfying things about making a movie is to see something materialize before you that you had previously only imagined.

What do you think this movie will do for health care in rural areas? I hope it will inspire more attention from the public to work on bringing adequate healthcare to rural areas. The rural-urban gap in China is growing. We are working with partner organizations whom we will feature alongside our film’s release so that audiences wishing to get involved can find direct ways to make a difference.

What are your ideas for upcoming projects? I am developing a fictional animated script about a dog’s life in China and a contemporary woman’s drama set in China and/or the US. I may also work on another rural China documentary on education.

Which filmmaker do you admire most? Stanley Kubrick.

Are there any good places in Beijing to view documentaries and independent films? There are many great theaters and salons. CNEX, Tsingying, Ullens Art Aenter 798 and BCMoma are just some of the great venues that support independent and documentary films.

A free beta test screening of Restoring the Light will be held at the Wenjing Hotel Tsingying Film this Saturday July 23 from 4:30pm to 6pm. For more information on the screening, visit http://site.douban.com/tsingyingfilm/. For more information on the movie, visit www.restoringthelight.com.