Synopsis

In the autumn of 2005, the sale of village land by local officials in Taishi Village, Panyu, Guangzhou, triggered strong discontent among villagers. Hundreds of people signed petitions, demanding the lawful removal of the village chief. Villagers sealed off the village committee's financial office and expressed their demands through peaceful sit-ins. Government authorities deployed police to arrest active participants among the villagers, but the villagers persisted in demanding the initiation of the removal process. Finally, a government task force was dispatched to verify the signatures in the village. The Taishi Village removal incident garnered significant attention from both domestic and foreign media, and it also unsettled the local government. On September 12th, the government sent police to surround Taishi Village and apprehended dozens of villagers who were peacefully protesting at the village committee. Despite facing various forms of suppression, the villagers of Taishi persevered and formed an election committee to democratically remove the village committee director according to their wishes. The government subsequently escalated its efforts, forcing the elected members to withdraw one by one. Amidst the autumn wind and rain, hired enforcers patrolled the village, driving lawyers and journalists out of the village. This film is structured into four parts, each documenting different stages of the events. It records the scenes of the villagers' struggle and the tragic outcome of this grassroots movement, showcasing the burgeoning sense of rights consciousness in rural Guangdong. From this, one can witness the villagers' ability to exercise their right to elect and the government's habitual responses.