We Are Not Beggars Documentary Analysis

The documentary film We Are Not Beggars depicts the life of several children as street performers in a modern Chinese city, Chengdun in 1995. Nana and her siblings, the oldest is 14 and the youngest is 7 years old, have been wandering the country as street performers for four years to earn money. As Nana’s brother, Sihai said that their family is really poor and their mother is sick. Moreover, Nana’s mother has mentioned that there are seven children in their family despite the Single Child Policy. Therefore, the financial situation of the family becomes extremely severe. As a result, Nana and her siblings have to drop school and find a method to solve the family’s financial difficulty. The camera of director Wen-jie Qin follows them in their …show more content…
Under the camera, it’s obvious that their living condition is very tough and arduous: they leave home and wander to unknown cities all over China at young ages; they perform bravely in front of hundreds of people from early morning to late night; they need to endure the hunger if they can’t beg for any food to eat; they eat the customers’ leftover from restaurants; they pick up clothes which is thrown away in cities and wear them with happiness. Wen has also recorded some citizens’ opinions when they are watching those children’s performance. Some citizens hold the opinion that “this kind of performance should be banned because it’s so cruel. They should find other ways to earn money.” (Wen) Others argue that “They too use the skills they have to survive. They don 't rob or steal. They are alright. Their way of making money is absolutely right.” (Wen) Nana tells Wen that she will go to school after she returns home village. When Wen asks her “What will you do after school?” She answers: “ Make money.” Then, she will make more money for her sisters to go back school with her. Nana’s wish seems simple, but it’s really vague. It doesn’t have a specific time and the end is