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A widely acclaimed documentary and its associated book are showcasing the authentic Liangshan, a mountainous area located in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province. The documentary, titled “Beyond the Mountain“, and the subsequent book of the same name are the work of Japanese director Ryo Takeuchi and writer Hani, who aim to represent the diversity of China and present the reality of Liangshan to the world.
Now residing in Nanjing, the capital of East China’s Jiangsu Province, Takeuchi never anticipated the global attention his 2021 documentary would receive. The film has garnered over five million views on YouTube and has been featured on major Japanese online news platforms such as Yahoo! and Topic.
The “Beyond the Mountain” book, recently launched, encapsulates the remarkable transformations brought about by China’s poverty alleviation efforts in Liangshan. It narrates the devoted work of poverty alleviation workers and volunteers, with participants from the documentary sharing their personal experiences.
Director Takeuchi first filmed Liangshan in 2011, at a time when access was primarily on the back of a donkey due to the absence of roads. In his documentary, he returns a decade later, capturing the dramatic transformations the region has undergone through the lens of a foreign observer. This time, the film crew was able to drive to the village, highlighting the rapid development Liangshan has seen.
The heart of the project, according to both Takeuchi and Hani, lies in its authenticity. The film and the book successfully bridge the gap between viewers and the people of Liangshan, connecting diverse cultures and experiences.
After the documentary’s release in 2021, Yilin Press approached the film’s producer to explore the possibility of expanding the narrative into a book. According to Li Rui, the book editor, there were numerous compelling stories not featured in the film, and the book provides an opportunity to tell those untold stories.
Emphasizing the theme of dreams, the documentary and the book invite the people of Liangshan, especially students, to voice their aspirations. As Takeuchi points out, only when dreams are voiced can they potentially become a reality. The narratives of both the documentary and the book thus revolve around the realization of dreams – dreams of individuals, dreams of communities, and dreams of a better future for Liangshan.
Together, the documentary and the book offer a comprehensive, empathetic, and inspirational portrait of Liangshan, capturing the beauty of its landscape, the vibrancy of its culture, and the resilience of its people. They serve as a testament to the power of dreams and the transformative potential of human spirit, exemplifying the immense capacity for growth and progress within Liangshan and beyond.
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