Malcolm Clarke: To understand today’s China, you must travel the world

Two-time Oscar winner Malcolm Clarke has been producing documentary and feature films for nearly four decades. In the 1980s he first came to China, for business. "China was a typical Third World country at that time. Factories were rare and I couldn’t find a decent hotel. Wherever I went, I saw people working hard in the fields. Life was hard, but they were strong-willed and optimistic," said Clarke.

In 2013 Clarke once again set foot in China to film "Better Angels", a documentary on Sino-US relations. He came to realise that unbelievable changes had taken place—China had transformed from a poor and backward agricultural country to the world's second largest economy. He initially thought that he could make a documentary on Sino-US relations in the two countries, but soon discovered that China's influence had already spread all over the world.

"I had to visit more places to better understand China," he said. The aim of “Better Angels” was to help Westerners deepen their understanding of China, and to develop a more mature and rational way for both sides to regard each other.

In “Better Angels”, he follows a native of Southwest China's Yunnan province who worked in Ethiopia for three years. During this time he could only keep in touch with his wife and children through intermittent internet access. When the documentary was screened in the town of Muscatine, this scene brought tears to the eyes of many American viewers. China’s own development has also benefited the rest of the world, as Chinese multinationals have created jobs for locals. In the documentary, an unemployed American housewife regained hope in her life when she found a job in a Chinese factory. "Such examples are everywhere," said Clarke.

Western people may not be able to understand the world's second-largest economy, but they can definitely understand how a father misses his son. Many Chinese parents who go to work in the cities leave their children in the care of their grandparents. The sacrifices were shocking to the Western viewers," said Malcolm Clarke.

"Today, China is still a mystery to some Westerners," Clarke said. "China should share more stories of ordinary people so that Westerners can let go of prejudice and suspicion towards China."

Malcolm Clarke: To understand todays China, you must travel the world

Two-time Oscar winner Malcolm Clarke has been producing documentary and feature films for nearly four decades. In the 1980s he first came to China, for business. China was a typical Third World country at that time. Factories were rare and I couldnt find a decent hotel. Wherever I went, I saw people working hard in the fields. Life was hard, but they were strong-willed and optimistic, said Clarke. In 2013 Clarke once again set foot in China to film Better Angels, a documentary on Sino-US relations. He came to realise that unbelievable changes had taken placeChina had transformed from a poor and backward agricultural country to the worlds second largest economy. He initially thought that he could make a documentary on Sino-US relations in the two countries, but soon discovered that Chinas influence had already spread all over the world. I had to visit more places to better understand China, he said. The aim of Better Angels was to help Westerners deepen their understanding of China, and to develop a more mature and rational way for both sides to regard each other. In Better Angels, he follows a native of Southwest Chinas Yunnan province who worked in Ethiopia for three years. During this time he could only keep in touch with his wife and children through intermittent internet access. When the documentary was screened in the town of Muscatine, this scene brought tears to the eyes of many American viewers. Chinas own development has also benefited the rest of the world, as Chinese multinationals have created jobs for locals. In the documentary, an unemployed American housewife regained hope in her life when she found a job in a Chinese factory. Such examples are everywhere, said Clarke. Western people may not be able to understand the worlds second-largest economy, but they can definitely understand how a father misses his son. Many Chinese parents who go to work in the cities leave their children in the care of their grandparents. The sacrifices were shocking to the Western viewers, said Malcolm Clarke. Today, China is still a mystery to some Westerners, Clarke said. China should share more stories of ordinary people so that Westerners can let go of prejudice and suspicion towards China.