Watch The Blood of Yingzhou District

The Blood of Yingzhou District is a poignant documentary film directed by the American filmmaker Ruby Yang, in partnership with the Chinese HIV/AIDS activist and blogger Wan Yanhai. It was released in 2006 and won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject in 2007. The film is set in the Yingzhou district of China, a rural area known for its significant HIV infection rates due to unsanitary blood donation practices. The documentary exposes the heartbreaking reality of this epidemic through the eyes of a group of children who are HIV positive.

The film centers around several children affected by the disease, including Huang Children, Gao Jun, and Nan Nan. The documentary follows their daily lives as they struggle to come to terms with their illness in a society that largely shuns and discriminates against them.

Huang Children, aged nine, is one of the youngest children featured in the film. He has been living with HIV since birth and was infected through a blood transfusion. Despite his illness, Huang Children is optimistic and playful, enjoying singing and playing with his brother. However, he also experiences the pain of social isolation and stigmatization from his peers.

Gao Jun, aged twelve, was infected with HIV through an unsanitary blood transfusion at a young age. He lives with his grandparents, who struggle to afford his HIV medication, and dreams of one day becoming a basketball player. Gao Jun faces numerous barriers and hardships on his way to fulfilling his dream, including being denied the opportunity to play basketball due to his HIV-positive status.

Nan Nan, aged sixteen, was infected with HIV through her mother during childbirth. She lives with her grandmother and younger sister and attends a school for HIV-positive children. Nan Nan is bright and determined despite her illness and dreams of becoming a nurse. However, she faces many obstacles and prejudices, including being forced to leave school due to her HIV-positive status.

The Blood of Yingzhou District is a deeply moving and intimate portrayal of the lives of these children and the challenges they face living with HIV in a society that shuns them. The film also sheds light on the broader issue of HIV/AIDS in China and the government's inadequate response to the epidemic.

The documentary is shot in a non-invasive and non-exploitative way, allowing the children to tell their own stories in their own words. The film does not shy away from the harsh realities of living with HIV, including the painful side effects of medication, and the emotional toll of societal discrimination.

Overall, The Blood of Yingzhou District is a powerful and emotional documentary that highlights the human face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in China. Through the eyes of these brave children, the film exposes the urgent need for greater awareness, education, and support for those affected by the disease.