''Ximei'' is a 2019 American documentary directed by

Andy Cohen Andrew Joseph Cohen (born June 2, 1968) is an American radio and television talk show host, producer, and writer. Cohen is the host and executive producer of Bravo's late night talk show, '' Watch What Happens Live!'' He also has a pop culture ...

, co-directed by

Gaylen Ross Gaylen Ross (born August 15, 1950) is an American director, writer, producer and actress, best known for playing Francine Parker in the 1978 horror film '' Dawn of the Dead'' and also noted for directing the 2008 documentary '' Killing Kasztne ...

and produced by

Ai Weiwei Ai Weiwei (, ; born 28 August 1957) is a Chinese contemporary artist, documentarian, and activist. Ai grew up in the far northwest of China, where he lived under harsh conditions due to his father's exile. As an activist, he has been openly c ...

. In a gritty, vérité style, the film follows the harrowing crusades of a peasant woman named Liu Ximei. She fights for the survival of fellow AIDS victims who contracted AIDS in the 1990s when Chinese health officials encouraged millions of poor farmers to sell their blood for a pittance under catastrophic health conditions. Production of Ximei lasted seven years, due to interference from Chinese officials; Cohen's phone and internet messages were spied on, parts of the footage regularly confiscated, and he and Ross were expelled from the AIDS villages on various occasions. Subjects of the film were often detained by the authorities and forced to sign statements and the film's Chinese cameraman was arrested and later released for his activism.

Reception

The LA Times’ Kimber Myers observed, "No wonder China was so concerned about the production of Ximei…But this isn’t simply a damning indictment of the nation; it is a hopeful celebration of one woman’s activism and kindness in the face of her own struggle with AIDS." In the opinion of Ben Kenigsberg of the NY Times, "It does pay its subjects the ultimate courtesy, treating them as officials have not: as fully rounded human beings." Joe Bendel wrote, "Cohen & Ross’s ''Ximei'' (executive produced by Ai Weiwei) is very highly recommended as a profile in courage and an indictment of the CCP’s callous contempt for human life." In Spiritual Practice Micah Bucey states, "Ximei, directed with a combination of in-the-moment grit and great sensitivity by Andrew Cohen and Gaylen Ross, follows this no-nonsense justice warrior through her often mundane days."

Awards

* Close Up Edinburgh Docufest – ''Best social impact Doc'' * Movies that Matters – ''Golden Butterfly Award'' * The Telly Awards – ''Silver Telly Award'' * Golden Gate International Film Festival – ''Film of the Festival'' * Golden Gate International Film Festival – ''Best Cinematography''

References

External links

* * {{IMDb title, id=tt9909228 2019 films 2019 documentary films Documentary films about China Documentary films about HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS in American films American documentary films 2010s American films