Documentary maker and China expert Ruben Terlou has made a fourth series about China and its inhabitants. Still he persisted The world of the Chinese, his new seven-part travel series for the VPRO, no foot in China itself. Instead, he went around the world in search of stories of Chinese immigrants and their influence on the local population.
It is important for everyone to learn more about China, Terlou tells NU.nl. He previously made documentary series about the country Along the banks of the yangtze (nominated for the Silver Nipkow disk), Through the heart of China in Chinese dreams.
“You have to take note of what exactly is happening, so that you can determine how you want to relate to the country. To what extent do we want to become economically dependent or enjoy the Chinese market? What does that mean for our ideals, and our freedoms? ? “
‘I am still touched by that’
The documentary maker tries to answer these questions by means of personal portraits. “Personal stories are what fascinate me the most,” says Terlou. “The meaningful encounters, the conversations, I am still touched by that.”
“Bigger developments in society can be symbolized very well by means of personal stories – that’s what special television delivers. I started with it with my first series and I still do it today. Conveying the big by telling the small, actually. . “
The big story, in this case: Chinese people who settle abroad en masse. In The world of the Chinese Terlou will visit Chinese people in Kenya, Serbia, the United States and the Netherlands, to find out what their motives are for building a life abroad.
‘Lingered a bit in the abstract’
Terlou had been dealing with these questions since 2016. “China’s influence on the world stage is growing enormously. We all know about the increasing geopolitical power and the economic dependence of other countries on China, but for me it got stuck a bit in the abstract. imagine what the meeting between local populations and the Chinese would look like and how all those lives are influenced by the Chinese presence. “
Who are they, what do they want to achieve and what impact does their presence have on the local population? In Serbia he meets a woman who moved there for love, and now works in a gold mine. In Italy he saw how Chinese teams disinfect the schools with large soap cannons during the corona crisis.
The portraits that Terlou made paint a richly varied picture, but he soon discovered a common thread.
“Most of the Chinese immigrants I met for this series are very much focused on the future and wealth creation,” says Terlou. “You actually see that everywhere, whether you are in Madagascar or Cambodia. And they also make considerable sacrifices: they are far from their family and friends and in order to realize their goals they sometimes take considerable risks.”
The first episode of The world of the Chinese can be seen on NPO2 on Sunday 10 January at 8.20 pm.
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