On the evening of March 16, a dense fog enveloped New York as long lines formed outside the Producer’s Club, where the documentary “Ripples” was set to have its U.S. premiere at 8 PM. The Producer’s Club, an iconic theater in New York City, is just a few steps away from Times Square.
“Ripples” uses a documentary approach to focus on the inspiring stories of four Uyghur women from Xinjiang, China. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and has won Best Film at both the International Documentary Festival of Ierapetra and the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. In anticipation of this special film, the Producers’ Club created an invitation and several posters which were displayed in advance.
“Ripples” poster
“Ripples” invitation
Despite heavy fog on the day of the screening, the turnout of eager New York audiences exceeded expectations, prompting the cinema to add two additional screening rooms. Liam, the manager of Producer’s Club, hosted the pre-screening discussion, expressing how the stories of these women from a distant ancient country resonate closely with those of us across the Pacific.
Throughout the screening, the audience responded with sighs and laughter as the narrative shifted. After the film concluded, many viewers remained in their seats, deep in thought. One audience member, unable to contain their emotions, told the media that “Ripples” dispelled the clouds of misinformation, and the experiences of the four women chasing their dreams in Xinjiang were uplifting. Dan Salerno, a senior consultant from Documentary Business, expressed preliminary interest in acquiring the film, while the Brooklyn Film Festival extended an olive branch to the production.
As viewers exited the theater, discussions continued in the lounge area, lingering as they debated the film’s creative approach, the current state of Uyghur women in China, and how U.S.-China relations might be better sustained. Twenty minutes may seem brief, but the reflections and discussions it prompted will last much longer.
