A cogent yet unhurried story of a smart and gentle man withstanding the unscrupulous horror of the Chinese government's relentless crackdown on free thinkers.
16 Reviews
A brave story, bravely made
omnisteve12 November 2018
Why isn't this more popular?
nguy-977494 December 2023
I wish many more people can know about this movie and I do believe it is a must see. I was appalled by how much this man Sun Yi went through under that brutal Communist regime and was, at the same time, inspired by his courage.
Many people around me have already given up on doing the right things and speaking up because they feel like whatever good things they might do is insignificant and cannot overturn the deteriorating current around the world. I myself sometimes feel like this and hesitate to do what I believe is right when opportunities arise. After seeing this man Sun Yi made a wager on his life to make this movie, seeing how his letter written in prison led to the eventual shutting down of the brutal Chinese labor camp system, I felt like a coward and an urge to stay true to my values. Small changes do matter! Small actions that we take in our everyday life can make a difference!
Many people around me have already given up on doing the right things and speaking up because they feel like whatever good things they might do is insignificant and cannot overturn the deteriorating current around the world. I myself sometimes feel like this and hesitate to do what I believe is right when opportunities arise. After seeing this man Sun Yi made a wager on his life to make this movie, seeing how his letter written in prison led to the eventual shutting down of the brutal Chinese labor camp system, I felt like a coward and an urge to stay true to my values. Small changes do matter! Small actions that we take in our everyday life can make a difference!
Such a must-see movie!
sofiarobbins2 February 2022
Letter from Masanjia has the most depressing epilogue text you will ever read. Utterly heartbreaking, devastating, a former prisoner of Chinese labour camp, sets out to make a film that will expose his country's inhumane practices. Sun Yi - a quiet hero.
Very touching!
freeofspirit15 September 2018
I just watched this documentary this afternoon in Pasadena. Very touching! 👏 I highly recommend it to everyone.
When he was long time tortured, he kept encouraging himself: I am still breathing, so why I give in? He defend his belief to traditional values with his life.
Salute to hero Sun Yi, his family and all anonymous contributors.
A true story of our time not to be missed
zhanglin-7528219 September 2018
A very powerful story told delicately. I went to the premiere in New York and was totally amazed by every element of this documentary. The animation based on illustrations by Sun Yi himself is very convincing and touchiing.
I noticed that the reviews by New York Times and LA Times are also very positive. And the rate on Rotten Tomatoes is a surprising 100%.
I noticed that the reviews by New York Times and LA Times are also very positive. And the rate on Rotten Tomatoes is a surprising 100%.
Life-changing - A must-see
ZumbaConnoisseur24 October 2018
I had no idea this film would break my heart and make me cry, said the late-50s father of two accountant friend who came to see it with me. If you don't like documentaries, go see this. If you have to grind your life to a hault to make it happen, see this. It's such an amazing story and will paint a different picture for you of the things you buy, the way things work in not-free countries, and how things really can work if we pay attention and try a little harder to make the world a better place. A quiet mom in Oregon changed China's labor camp system policy. Think about that.
Moved to tears
hongcte12 April 2020
I went into the documentary for the politics. I was blindsided by the love and courage of Sun Yi had for his family, the guards who tortured him, his fellow countrymen who were also being persecuted by the government, and also with the courage and persistence of Julie Keith who didn't give up. I don't think I ever cried so hard in a film. No one should have to suffer like Sun Yi and his family did. Stalin was reported to say that the death of one person was a tragedy and the death of a million was only statistics. This amazing documentary reminded me that there is a story behind those statistics, and the story of Sun Yi is one of unbelievable courage, persistence, and suffering. It made me realize how important freedom is, and why we must always stand up to brutal regimes that want to take them away. I cannot recommend this documentary enough.
A MUST see!
bekihunt-7564127 September 2018
Amazing story but very low exposure
teddy_kkk19 June 2019
This is exactly why two million Hong Kongers are willing to spend their time to protest against China suppression on their freedom of democracy.
As I don't intend to give out any spoilers, all I can say is that this movie is go gut-wrenching in that it makes you wanna join the Hong Kongers to protest against China's oppression although you are not a Hong Konger.
This true story is just so well made and really make you think twice about supporting products 'Made in China'....
This documentary is deserving of more exposure and hopefully some famous person will take note and expose this documentary to a broader audience.
As I don't intend to give out any spoilers, all I can say is that this movie is go gut-wrenching in that it makes you wanna join the Hong Kongers to protest against China's oppression although you are not a Hong Konger.
This true story is just so well made and really make you think twice about supporting products 'Made in China'....
This documentary is deserving of more exposure and hopefully some famous person will take note and expose this documentary to a broader audience.
Amazing story...
danalfjorden15 February 2019
The Bravest Man
lilianzmusic21 February 2022
Heartbreaking documentary that deserves more attention!
dina2011 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not someone who is easily moved to tears when watching movies or documentaries but this really broke me.
Sun Yi was an embodiment of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of fascist evil. I truly pray that your pain and suffering will not be in vain Sun Yi and that this documentary gets the recognition it deserves. (It really upset me to learn that he had died alone at end of the documentary.)
Unfortunately as Hollywood these days is so reliant on the huge Chinese movie market they won't be giving this Documentary any nominations at the Oscars. But if any documentary from the last few years deserves a nomination in the best Oscar documentary feature category it's 'Letter from Masanjia'.
Please support the brave people behind this important documentary and rent it out on Vimeo for just $3.
Touching and informative
jjsunpu29 April 2019
I watched with a few friends from our school PTSA. at a film screening event in University of Washington. Everyone was touched to tears. Many questions were asked after the QA session and we got to know the current situation in China. It is a great documentary with intense emotions and precious information. I applaud the leading actor's bravery and perseverance. After watching the film, we decided to film it at our school.
Surreal...
boleslawwolowik28 August 2023
By watching this documentary you become a better person. The story of the main character is almost indescribable - incredibly strong person, a true hero with a golden heart and truly unbreakable spirit. The movie is hard to find and heavily suppressed. Given the movie received numerous nominations and awards the number of ratings on imbd only shows how heavily suppressed this movie's reach really is. The movie shows that living in China is hellish as you cannot express yourself freely. After watching this movie one becomes more aware of the choices one makes when buying cheap Chinese goods. F CCP!
A Letter from a Prison
westsideschl24 June 2019
Strange coincidence that just as I was about to watch this doc my tele's BBC World News was announcing that President Trump & President Xi were getting together at the G20 Summit. Our leadership's foreign policy for countries using imprisonments and killings of citizens who want basic freedoms is guided by monetary bottom line interests. Presidential polices (accompanied by letters of friendship) popular with despotic, autocratic regimes in Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Russia, Turkey & of course China. Ironic that a letter from one of these countries should show up in the U.S., and Oregon of all places. A brave letter w/sad & predictable results.
Incredibly moving
gfnpnc21 May 2024
An important look at the unspeakable acts occurring in China. Shown from the perspective of a very inspirational, strong minded man; this film will open your eyes to just some of the horrors that the Chinese government put its citizens through.
It had be crying by the end... Sun Yi - an amazing human. So moving, so cruel, so sad. You can't help but feel the helplessness and terror, but also the inspirational courage, conviction, and determination. It's a wild ride, with some very touching moments. A well made film, but there is little happiness here.
An important piece of work and I'm surprised it has so little reviews.
It had be crying by the end... Sun Yi - an amazing human. So moving, so cruel, so sad. You can't help but feel the helplessness and terror, but also the inspirational courage, conviction, and determination. It's a wild ride, with some very touching moments. A well made film, but there is little happiness here.
An important piece of work and I'm surprised it has so little reviews.
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