Petition

Jan 14 2011 N/A 2h 0m
Documentary

The dysfunctional Chinese justice system allows citizens with grievances against their local governments to petition the court to clear or correct their record. Yet in order to do so, the petitioners must travel to Beijing to file paperwork and wait an indefinite period to plead their case. Following the saga of a group of petitioners over the years of 1996 and 2008, Petition unfolds like a novel by Zola or Dickens. This was filmed surreptitiously from the point of view of the petitioners, and not the justice officials, the police, or those heavies sent by the municipalities.

Plot

Over the course of 12 years (1996-2008), director Zhao Liang follows the 'petitioners', who travel from all over China to the nation's capital, Beijing, to make complaints about injustices committed by authorities in their hometowns and villages.

Written by

N/A

Directed by

Liang Zhao

Cast

Zhang Weiye, Xiao Yuan

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

China

Production Companies

BBC, TSR, ARTE France Cinéma, RTBF, Ina, CNC, YLE

Languages

English

Awards

9 wins & 3 nominations

Scores
# of Votes
367
Average Rating
7.7 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA