Rural Projectionist Promotes Development of China's Film Industry

Guo Jianhua

Ever wonder what it would be like to watch movies day in and day out? Guo Jianhua knows what that is like. She has been reeling off stories on the screen in rural areas in Xiangfu, a district in Kaifeng, a city in Central China's Henan Province, for 45 years. "As long as rural residents enjoy watching stories on the silver screen, I would like to show movies to them throughout my life," she has been quoted as saying. If you learn more about Guo's experiences, you will surely be impressed by her deep commitment to her profession.

Despite the passage of time, Guo can recall every detail of the first days she worked as a projectionist in Xiangfu. She started her career in 1976. At that time, watching open-air movies was a popular recreational activity for many Chinese. Each time a movie was to be shown, many villagers would flock to the projection site, with their babies on their backs and stools in their hands.

Inspiring Power

Guo Jianhua shows a movie to farmers.

Guo cannot remember how many films she has shown to farmers during the past four decades. The numerous outstanding characters (on the silver screen) have plucked the strings of her heart.

For Guo, Jiao Yulu is the most unforgettable film. The movie, shown in 1990, depicts the life of Jiao Yulu (1922-1964), a clean, honest Secretary of Lankao (a county in Henan Province)'s Party (Communist Party of China) Committee. Jiao treated the residents like they were his relatives, and he was always ready to help them. As she watched the heart-touching story, Guo was stunned by the power of love and faith. She made up her mind to follow Jiao's example, and to strive to become an outstanding Party member. "The lofty man will live in our hearts forever," says Guo.

In May 1995, she fulfilled her long-cherished dream of joining the Party. Inspired by Jiao and numerous heroic, indomitable Party members (on the screen), Guo has devoted her life to helping farmers increase their knowledge and broaden their vision through movies.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party. Guo vows to show more digital movies to farmers, to popularize scientific and technological knowledge in production among them, so they can apply what they learn in production. That, in turn, will promote rural economic and cultural vitalization.

Striving to Improve Company's Management

When Guo was appointed manager of Kaifeng Xiangfu District Film Company, in February 1996, China's rural film market was sluggish. On her first day as manager, Guo sang to encourage the company's workers to make concerted efforts to improve the company's management.

Xiangfu's cultural affairs bureau provided a loan to the company, to help promote its development. To keep the company alive, Guo led the workers in providing various services (to rural residents), including holding wedding ceremonies and celebrations to open businesses. Within six months, the company had earned more than 200,000 yuan (US $30,769), simply by providing such services to farmers.  

"Given China's rapid economic development during the past decade, Chinese people's living standards have substantially improved. During the 1970s and 1980s, we went from village to village to show movies to rural residents, carrying the movie projector and rolls of films with a wooden handcart. Later, we used tractors to carry the equipment. Now, we drive cars to villages, when we show movies to farmers," says Guo.

During the past several decades, Guo has shown more than 130,000 movies (including rights-protection-themed films and popular science films) to rural residents in Xiangfu District, and to workers of local plants, schools and government organizations. The movies were well received by the people.

Forging Close Bond with Peanuts

Guo was a deputy to the 11th, 12th and 13th NPC (National People's Congress) sessions. During those sessions, she offered suggestions on how to promote the establishment of better cinemas in rural areas (across the country).

Guo attended the 24th Conference of the 12th NPC Standing Committee, which was held on November 7, 2016, during which the Law of the People's Republic of China on Promotion of the Film Industry was adopted. Guo was pleased to note the Chinese Government provided more financial support to cinemas, at the grass-roots level across the country, including those in rural areas, after the law took effect on March 1, 2017.

When reporters, from different media outlets, took pictures of her during the Fourth Session of the 12th NPC (held in March 2016 in Beijing), Guo said, "Why don't you take pictures of my peanuts? They look prettier than me." During the following five years, she carried peanuts, Kaifeng's special agricultural product, when she attended the annual NPC session.

Guo Jianhua has carried peanuts to attend the NPC session for several years.

Guo is emotionally attached to peanuts, as many villagers offered the delicious treat to her, as she played the films.

During the Fourth Session of the 13th NPC (held in March 2021 in Beijing), Guo told reporters (from different media outlets): "China's Ministry of Agriculture has designated Kaifeng's peanuts as agricultural products with geographical indicators (GI). Also, some international airlines offer, as snacks, our peanuts to their passengers."

To promote implementation of the strategy of rural vitalization, Guo suggested, during the session, the Chinese Government should adopt preferential policies and increase funding to promote the production of peanuts. "I hope more farmers will escape poverty and live happy lives, after the State makes greater efforts to help the farmers grow peanuts," said Guo.

She also said she hoped the Chinese Government will build more, and better, cinemas in rural areas during the 14th Five-year Plan Period (2021-2025). She believes that will help promote rural cultural vitalization.

Lifelong Commitment

Following in Jiao's footsteps, Guo during the past 45 years has put much effort into promoting the development of Xiangfu's rural film industry, to satisfy the spiritual needs of the district's residents. Many residents have been deeply touched by Guo's dedication to her career, and her willingness to sacrifice her personal life.

During the summer of 1978, Red Crag, a movie focusing on Chinese revolutionaries, was a hit throughout the country. Guo and her colleagues showed the movie six times a day to rural residents. As overwork adversely affected Guo's health, she gave birth to a premature baby girl. "My family cried when they saw the two-kilogram infant. My husband suggested that we should name our baby Hongmei (Red Plum), after the name of the song in the movie, so our little girl would be as strong as the flower. Fortunately, our baby got better soon," Guo recalls.

"I'm grateful to my husband, who has supported me throughout the years. To support me in my work, he became a rural doctor after he left the army and returned home."

During the past four decades, showing movies to rural residents has been an indispensable part of Guo's life. Given her outstanding achievements, she in recent years has received accolades and special titles, including being named a national moral model and an Outstanding Party Member in Henan Province.

"My biggest wish is to reel off more, and better, stories (on the screen) for rural residents. That, in turn, will promote the development of mass culture," says Guo.

Over the years, she has witnessed the development of the national film industry, and she has proved, with her actions, the value of remembering one's original dream and following one's heart.

Photos Supplied by Guo Jianhua 

(Women of China English Monthly April 2021 issue)