A father and son’s mobile “starry sky cinema” in a small town in Inner Mongolia

As the frost season approaches and the temperatures drop, the village of Halaihei in Inner Mongolia’s Xiang’an League buzzes with activity. About a hundred villagers, bundled in warm clothing, gather in the village square, each bringing their own small stools for the perfect viewing spot.

At the center of this vibrant scene are Xu Zhanhua, a 65-year-old film projectionist, and his son, Xu Chunyu, busy preparing for the night’s screening. They set up the projection screen, arrange chairs, and fine-tune the digital projector. By 7:30 PM, the film “A Long Way Home” begins to play, and the villagers enjoy autumn snacks while enthusiastically sharing their thoughts on the movie.

Recent college graduate Zhao Xin shares, “Every character had tear-jerking moments; I almost cried several times during the film.”

This blend of cinema and starlit skies has been a cherished part of Xu Zhanhua’s life for 46 years. The father-son duo reside in Baergaistai Township’s Baolong Village. Xu Zhanhua, known for his steady character, has spent decades operating film projectors, while his extroverted son has assisted him for the past two years. Together, they have built a reputation for their film showings in the region.

“My father has a passion for movies and has been dedicated to providing free screenings for the community. I’m happy to support him,” says Xu Chunyu. He joined his father out of necessity when Xu Zhanhua could no longer travel far due to health issues. Over time, Xu Chunyu learned the ropes of film projection, helping to keep their mobile “starlight cinema” alive.

Xu Zhanhua recalls, “In the past, showing films was no easy task. The mountains were high and the roads were difficult, with travel often at night.” His responsibilities spanned 36 villages, the farthest being over 30 kilometers from home. When he started in 1978, he had to ride a bicycle loaded with over 100 pounds of equipment, including generators, projectors, speakers, films, and screens. One year, he wore out ten pairs of shoes, and in one night, over 1,000 villagers showed up to watch a film.

Over the years, the duo’s methods evolved, transitioning from bicycles to donkey carts to tricycles, and from 8.75mm film to 35mm projectors, then to digital screenings. “We must constantly learn to make our film presentations better,” Xu Zhanhua emphasizes, continuously seeking to improve his projection skills.

Xu Chunyu adds, “Of course, I learn quickly. Whenever my father struggles, I teach him.” They have become each other’s teachers, collaborating seamlessly in their mission.

“Thanks to digital technology, we can now fit all our screening equipment in a single box,” Xu Zhanhua explains. Their approach has evolved from merely completing screening tasks to genuinely valuing audience feedback. The films they select encompass various themes including patriotism, agricultural technology, legal education, fire safety, and drug prevention.

So far, they have screened over 16,000 films together, averaging around 300 screenings each year. Villager Zhao Fumin admits, “Whenever Old Xu comes to show a film, I never miss a single one. I’m a devoted fan!” He laughs, recalling his 46-year experience watching Xu Zhanhua’s films.

Today, Xu Zhanhua’s home contains hundreds of film reels from years of screenings, which he and his son occasionally dust off and project for preservation.

“I’ve been showing films for more than half my life; as long as there are people to watch, I will keep going,” Xu Zhanhua hopes that more and more people will experience the charm of community film screenings in the future.