Carol Liu has made a moving documentary film about visually impaired people living in one of the poorest regions of China. She's screening her film, Restoring the Light, next Tuesday at the American Chamber of Commerce in China.

When did you know you wanted to tell this story? I always had this calling since I was very young, I wanted to bring more of China’s stories out to the world and have people be able to appreciate all of [them], from all different facets that we don’t get to see in the West. It really bothered me that there are usually only two types of films that get a lot of play—they are either very political types of films, or they are about the terror of China taking over the world. I wanted to offer something different.

One of the points raised in the film is how the doctor has to make significant personal sacrifices to help others. Dr. Zhang could have easily had a great career in a city like Beijing or Shanghai, but he decided of his own accord to go back to Ningxia and start this clinic [to help the visually impaired in rural areas]. He’s very dogged and determined, and that’s what makes him special.

Are you still in contact with Dr. Zhang and the people he’s helped? Yes, but I was most saddened to find out about Juncheng after his sister passed away. He’s just such a wonderful child, with so much potential, and to know he has had to suffer like that, it just breaks your heart.

How is he doing now? We took it upon ourselves as a personal mission to help him because there’s just nothing available. He has to be bused seven hours to school, seven times a year, and he’s blind, so how does he get on that bus? So we’ve enlisted volunteers to help him.

DETAILS

What: Restoring the Light

Where: American Chamber of Commerce

When: Tue., November 22, 6:30pm

Web: www.restoringthelight.com