Social practice/ Mockumentary

Director

28‘23/Digital/Color. 2022-2023

I embarked on this documentary project while contemplating the urbanization process of my hometown. The gentleman known as Mr. Dahongpao is actually named Chen Zhenbing. According to my social investigation and analysis of his facial features, he belongs to the Mongolian ethnic group. He was born in the pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia. Around the age of twenty, he left the pastures and ventured into the city, living a scavenging and wandering life. Every day, dressed in a tidy yet non-standard police uniform, he pushes a small cart collecting scraps, wandering through various corners of the city. Locals tell various stories about him—some claim he was indeed a former policeman, while others suggest these are fabrications of his own making. In the city, Mr. Dahongpao seems to find a sense of belonging, yet the city itself seems to exclude him. His personal fate appears to witness the process of urbanization in China.

I aspire to produce a documentary featuring Mr. Dahongpao, portraying a character of vagrancy possibly unique to Chinese society. Through capturing his essence, I aim to contemplate the nexus between urban environments and individuals’ destinies within cities.