Straight
Synopsis
On May 12, 2008, Sichuan province suffered a devastating earthquake with thousands of deaths and many more injured and displaced. School buildings constructed from substandard materials, by corrupt government officials and contractors, collapsed, causing thousands of children to lose their lives. The buildings were described as tofu-dregs buildings because of the ease in which they structurally collapsed. Ai Weiwei and a team of volunteers traveled extensively throughout the areas of devastation, researching and documenting all the student deaths. In the aftermath of the quake, the collapsed school buildings were cleared out, the twisted steel rebar pulled out and sent to scrapyards. Ai acquired many tons of the twisted rebar, sending the material to his studio in Beijing where craftsmen meticulously straightened each piece of rebar.
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 6, 2020
VOD & Digital Platforms
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ai Weiwei
- Original Title
- Straight
- Country of Origin
- China
- Spoken Languages
- Mandarin
- Runtime
- 15m
- Production Studios
- Ai Weiwei Studio
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ai Weiwei
Department Leadership Roster
Ai Weiwei
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Straight.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Straight
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Straight about?
On May 12, 2008, Sichuan province suffered a devastating earthquake with thousands of deaths and many more injured and displaced. School buildings constructed from substandard materials, by corrupt government officials and contractors, collapsed, causing thousands of children to lose their lives. The buildings were described as tofu-dregs buildings because of the ease in which they structurally collapsed. Ai Weiwei and a team of volunteers traveled extensively throughout the areas of devastation, researching and documenting all the student deaths. In the aftermath of the quake, the collapsed school buildings were cleared out, the twisted steel rebar pulled out and sent to scrapyards. Ai acquired many tons of the twisted rebar, sending the material to his studio in Beijing where craftsmen meticulously straightened each piece of rebar.
Who directed Straight?
Straight was directed by Ai Weiwei.
Who stars in Straight?
The principal cast of Straight includes Not specified.
When was Straight released and how long is it?
Straight was released in 2015 with a total runtime of 15m.