Background:
Cindy Yu Shui, 16 at the time of filming, is the eldest of three children in the Yu family, subsistence farmers who live along the Yangtze River. As the Three Gorges Dam nears completion, the Yu's home and livelihood will be submerged. As they struggle to make a living onshore, a tourist industry flourishes along the river in the form of the Farewell Cruises offering tourists a glimpse of the landscape before it disappears. In need of income, her impoverished family sends Yu Shui to work on the boats. She herself would prefer to continue her education, but circumstances beyond her control intervene to shape her future.
Epilogue, 2007:
Cindy Yu Shui has since returned to her hometown to complete her high school education. Her family home has been flooded by the Three Gorges Dam. Her parents can no longer farm because they do not have land. They subsist by working odd jobs. Yu Shui's little brother and sister are attending school. The fees are expensive for a peasant family.
She wrote to me in an email on September, 9th, 2007:
"Yung Yung Brother,
I'm sorry for the late replay. My writing is not so good, I don' write well. I will take care of my father's eye problem as you told. I cried, when I watched the movie. It's very touching. The first thing came to my mind when I finished the movie is that I will study hard. I will help my brother and sister to study hard too...We don't want to be illiterates any more. My parents will not have to live such a hard life if we grow up and find ourselves good jobs. Now I realized how hard it is for my parents to try to work so hard everyday to keep our family...I must exceed my parents. I, or my generation will fullfill the dreams that my parent's generation failed to realize...I never understood when the school teacher says something like we are not studying for them, but for our own life in the future. Now I think I understand what they meant and now I see my path down in my life. I have my goal now. I will not let you down. Maybe what I wrote is not so good, but I will write you every month."
On October, 27th, 2007, Yu Shui wrote:
"Yung Yung big brother,
It has been a while since my last mail...I'd like to update you about my father's eye situation. We did went to hospital as you told us to. His eyes have serious problems. The doctor says he's got cataract and very bad near sight. They say they can try treat it, but they can't guarantee the result. The doctor also suggests an operation to change his eye crystal to an artificial crystal. My dad is getting old, he think about different things than what we think. I want to have his eye problem solved, but he says we are still small, he needs to save more to assure that Zhangying and Dengfeng to go to school. My father is stubborn, he won't listen to me. We had our mid-term exam but I didn't score well. Actually, it's pretty bad, only 400 something... It's all ok in the family, the only thing is that my parents has no income, our life is still hard."
Since May 2008, with donations received, we have assisted in payment for Mr. Yu's eye operations. We have paid for Yu children's high school tuition. I am hoping that, with your generous contributions, we will be able to establish a long-term fund for the family. I would also like to assist other subjects in my film who need help. If you have seen UP THE YANGTZE and feel compelled, I encourage your participation in this very simple gesture of support. Yu Shui's father makes the equivalent of $200 CAD / year. If you have any questions or would like further information, please email me at info@eyesteelfilm.com. Please also see additional information and updates in the BLOG, PHOTO GALLERY, BUDGET and MEDIA tabs.
Thank you for your time.
Yung Chang,
Director