Neighborhood Committee (2000)

In Chinese cities, neighborhood committees are the grassroots administrative bodies, staffed by retired women often called the "Little Foot Detective Team." They handle everything from community security and cleaning to posting propaganda and even catching petty thieves and distributing official documents. This film focuses on one such committee in Beijing, situated on the south bank of the Emperor's Garden, home to the local residents. Filming began in 1999, during the Chinese government's celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, a time when neighborhood committees were diligently preparing their areas and collecting fees.