THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS
Duan Jinchuan, China, 2002 BBC TWO Wednesday 25 February 2004 12.55am-1.55am
A dark comedy of political corruption as we follow one man's attempt to stitch up an election before his opponent besmirches his reputation as an award-winning birth control officer.
THIS HAPPY LIFE Saturday 1 February
Working on the train gang
XIAO'S LONG MARCH Saturday 1 February
An idler's induction into the Chinese army
Commissioner's
Comment Nick Fraser
Storyville Series Editor
Mr Lu is a party boss in a remote North Eastern Chinese village and The Secret of My Success is a fantastic, hilarious insight into the nature of local politics and democracy in communist China. Mr Lu, among his other duties, is required to organise the One Child Policy, stopping unwanted pregnancies. But he falls out with the women on the Contraception Committee with catastrophic results.
It is rare to find documentaries that are so funny and I've certainly never seen a Chinese documentary with so many laughs. Anyone who thinks the Chinese are either inscrutable or have no sense of humour should be forced to watch this film.
