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THE FILM

An Oregon woman finds an SOS message from a Chinese dissident in a package of Halloween decorations from Kmart, setting off a chain of events that would shut down the entire labor camp system in China and ignite the letter-writer’s dangerous quest to expose a deadly persecution.

Letter from Masanjia (2018) on IMDb

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AWARDS & MEDIA

 

Canadian Screen Award “Best Documentary” Nominee

Top 20 Audience Choice out of 247 films – Hot Docs 2018, Toronto

“An important story, made more intense by its tight focus… well told” – Ken Jaworowski, The New York Times

Silver Punt Audience Award for Best Documentary Film 2018 – Cambridge Film Festival, UK

“An astonishing sequence of events…” – Matthew Bannister, BBC Outlook

Grand Jury Prize for Best International Documentary – Doqumenta, Mexico

“A powerful tale of human suffering, compassion and perseverance” – Kevin Crust, LA Times

Audience Favourite Canadian Documentary Feature – Calgary International Film Festival, Canada

“An example of documentary at its most aspirational” – Andrea Gronvall, The Chicago Reader

FAQ

What is Falun Gong?
Asian cultures have a long history of developing and practicing exercises such as Tai Chi and Qigong for health and spiritual achievement…

Why is it persecuted by the Chinese regime?
Falun Gong gained popularity quickly when it was introduced to the public in China in the early 90s. By 1998, upwards of 70 million people were practicing it in China…

How did director Leon Lee come to know the story and find Sun Yi?
During production on his previous documentary about human rights in China, director Leon Lee became interested in the story of a Chinese political prisoner who made international headlines…

How did the filmmaking process work?
Leon Lee is considered a Chinese dissident for his human rights work and would not be welcome in China to film, so Sun Yi suggested that he learn to use a camera himself…

What inspired the animation?
Sun Yi was an avid reader of traditional Chinese graphic novels from a young age, and often practiced drawing in the book margins to hone his skills…

Who is Jiang Tianyong, Sun Yi’s lawyer, and what happened to him?
Jiang Tianyong is an internationally recognized Chinese human rights lawyer who has provided legal defense for wrongly imprisoned activists, Tibetans, Christians and Falun Gong practitioners in China…

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TAKE ACTION

In the film we see the power of a letter. Now it’s your turn.

If you are in the US please write to your local senator asking them to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 220, a bipartisan resolution expressing solidarity for Falun Gong practitioners who have lost lives, freedoms, and rights for adhering to their beliefs and practices.

TAKE ACTION

If you are in Canada please write to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to help free Canadian Falun Gong practitioner, Sun Qian, who has been illegally detained in China for over a year and is being tortured for her beliefs.

TAKE ACTION

NEWS

Letter from Masanjia

10 months ago

Letter from Masanjia
Excellent writeup by FURUYA Koichi from 朝日新聞（The Asahi Shimbun）, one of the largest national newspapers in Japan. ...

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AUDIENCE FEEDBACK

Letter from Masanjia
Letter from Masanjia
5.0
Based on 32 reviews
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Nicole Raffino
Nicole Raffino
2020-04-27T21:13:54+0000
Great work spread the word
Rui Simões
Rui Simões
2020-04-24T19:32:08+0000
😟sad but true... everyone should watch it
Hong Te
Hong Te
2020-04-14T02:41:34+0000
I went into the documentary for the politics. I was not expecting to be moved beyond words by the humanity of the... people on the screen. 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 showed the tragedy behind those statistics, but it also showed unbelievable courage, persistence, and compassion. 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. To his family, if you're reading this, I hope you know that Sun Yi has touched the lives of so many people. His love for you shines through the movie and it will move me to action. This documentary 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 it enough.read more
Max Coultham
Max Coultham
2020-02-24T11:04:27+0000
an amazing documentary.. so many points to ponder. Sun Yi believed..
Pirjo Svensson
Pirjo Svensson
2019-10-06T13:58:44+0000
An amazing documentary from China. Sun Yi’s incredible inner strength and a brave compassionate heart will touch... your heart.read more
Victoria Tyurina
Victoria Tyurina
2019-05-01T21:01:16+0000
Всем рекомендую посмотреть этот фильм .. история эта , касается... каждого из нас ...read more
Manya Zhou
Manya Zhou
2019-02-20T21:27:57+0000
Tears in my eyes, thoughts in my mind. I think in this world, people who don’t know what is the real China are... Chinese people living in China; but those who know the most are still Chinese people and they want to run away from their motherland...bravo à Mr Sun, un esprit tellement courageux pour combattre d’avoir la liberté! Thanks for Mr Li the director brought us such a beautiful documentary. L’esprit est immortel. R.I.P.read more
陳識文
陳識文
2019-02-17T06:33:14+0000
接露發生在勞教所的邪惡
Che Yot
Che Yot
2019-02-08T23:33:40+0000
Truly one of the most powerful documentaries I have ever watched. An eye-opener that will move your heart. One man's... tenacity in a nation ruled by communists. In a modern age where social media is used to show off being rich, famous, and beautiful..other people wish to have freedom and to stop persecution.read more
Kurt Nielsen
Kurt Nielsen
2018-12-08T11:16:24+0000
Human rights situation in China
Huong Do Nhu
Huong Do Nhu
2018-11-25T08:29:19+0000
"Nếu một người phụ nữ thông qua hành động nhỏ của mình có thể làm được điều này để... giải cứu hàng ngàn người vô tội, thì chuyện gì sẽ xảy ra nếu có nhiều người hơn nữa cùng đứng lên và làm như cô ấy?”read more
Jamie Chen
Jamie Chen
2018-10-12T15:38:58+0000
全世界都應該來看看，看看萬惡中共的暴行！
Peter Zheng
Peter Zheng
2018-09-14T00:54:45+0000
角逐「奧斯卡獎」最佳紀錄片
Lara Washington
Lara Washington
2018-08-07T05:04:41+0000
A truly moving story from a voice that deserves to be heard. Masanjia shows the realities of labour camps in China... which failed to break Sunyi’s spirit.read more
Mateus Arantes Fandino
Mateus Arantes Fandino
2018-08-05T03:28:41+0000
Inspiring documentary, highly recommended. If you are in Vancouver this long weekend, you can see it at VIFF.
Court Reinland
Court Reinland
2018-08-04T21:43:42+0000
Absolutely stunning, one of the best documentaries I have ever seen!
Sarah Daisy Kosa
Sarah Daisy Kosa
2018-05-19T22:15:34+0000
Guda Zheng
Guda Zheng
2018-05-18T20:33:27+0000
Jin Zhang
Jin Zhang
2018-05-17T23:30:14+0000
Little Woo
Little Woo
2018-05-06T22:10:32+0000
Letter from Masanjia is a deeply touching and heroic documentary - a monument of compassion and bravery!! Whenever you... need to activate your own courage, watch this film. It will open your heart and inspire you to take action despite the risks. I shed many tears - along with most in the theatre. Tears of admiration, sorrow and awe for the many layers of beauty and danger that we witnessed throughout this incredible journey. Wonderful use of animation (based on Sun Yi's skilled drawings) and risky undercover camera work - it's a miraculous film made despite great obstacles. Thank you Leon and your crew for your great love, dedication and artistry... This is truly an epic yet humble documentary - reflecting the epic yet humble nature of Sun Yi's life path.read more
Luís Fernando Novaes
Luís Fernando Novaes
2018-05-06T01:32:54+0000
Excellent documentary that shows us the truth about the evil communist regime.
Lingxi Zheng
Lingxi Zheng
2018-05-04T20:55:33+0000
Tom Kevin
Tom Kevin
2018-05-02T07:06:35+0000
Dandan Shi
Dandan Shi
2018-04-30T21:11:28+0000
Beth Buss
Beth Buss
2018-04-28T03:49:16+0000
Extraordinary. A true gift to us all. Thought-provoking, full of hope and tears.
Victoria Wu
Victoria Wu
2018-04-14T02:38:33+0000
Abhishekh Suri
Abhishekh Suri
2018-03-22T02:17:08+0000
Gong to devils den, and coming back alive, need lots of courage and fearful attitude.
Gisela Sommer
Gisela Sommer
2018-03-20T16:49:56+0000
This brave man risked his life not just once, but every day, to tell his story – a story that matters to the world.
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