Beyond the Clouds

THE VALUE OF LIFE is the fifth programme in the series BEYOND THE CLOUDS. The series is an intimate portrait of a small town in South west China: a day to day real-life story of 60 people in Lijiaing who represeent a cross section of life in that town. The series explores the stresses and strains placed on Chinese traditional life in the opening up of the China to market reforms and modern influences. THE VALUE OF LIFE represents the stark contrast between the state´s attitude to individual life and to individual´s attitude. It find its towns in a major drug crackdown culminating in the execution of a drug dealer. The film follows the response of all its major characters during the last 36 hours of the dealer´s life. One of many parallel stories follows the determination of a blind woman to teach to other disabled people who, in turn, help the underprivileged. There is no state help. Another follows a mother determined to find a cure for cerebral palsy child.