Autumn Gem: A Movie About an Extraordinary Woman

As a former member of the faculty of Columbia College Chicago, one of the things I miss most about the school is the special events that were always going on somewhere at the school. This is about one of those events--an event I found out about the day after it happened.

There was a screening of the film Autumn Gem. This film was co-produced and co-directed by Rae Chang, a film maker, dancer, martial artist, and all around artist. Her film is about the life of Qiu Jin (1875-1907), a Chinese revolutionary heroine and women's rights activist. She lived in a China much different from today. This was a China where women were subject to footbinding, arranged marriages, and denial of education. This biographical documentary tells the story of the woman considered to be China's first feminist. The Autumn Gem website has a list of additional screenings, as well as a trailer and additional historical information. It's scheduled to be released on DVD at the end of October 2009.