Ep 11. One Child Nation

In season 21 episode 11 of Independent Lens titled "One Child Nation," award-winning filmmaker Nanfu Wang explores the devastating impact of China's one-child policy on families and society as a whole.

Through personal interviews and archival footage, Wang delves into the political and social climate that led to the introduction of the one-child policy in 1979. She speaks to those who were directly affected by the policy, including parents who were forced to give up their children or faced crippling fines and sterilization.

Wang also sheds light on the lesser-known aspects of the policy, including the brutal enforcement methods used by the government, the widespread adoption of abandoned children by Western families, and the thriving black market for babies.

As Wang grapples with her own personal connection to the one-child policy, having grown up in China during its implementation, she provides a nuanced portrayal of the complex emotions surrounding it, from grief and guilt to resilience and hope.

The episode concludes with reflections on the aftermath of the policy's repeal in 2015 and its ongoing impact on Chinese society. Through its powerful storytelling and sensitive handling of a difficult subject, "One Child Nation" offers a poignant examination of a societal experiment with devastating consequences.