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The Mosuo Sisters

– by Marlo Poras

    1. Nonfiction

    2. Date Awarded: Summer 2009 & Summer 2011

    3. Directors(s): Marlo Poras

    1. Producer(s): Marlo Poras, Yu Ying Wu Chou, David Sutherland

    2. Company Credit: Marlo Poras Productions

    3. Location: China

    1. Film Status: In Post-Production

    2. URL: » The Mosuo Sisters page

About the Film:

Two spirited daughters from China’s last remaining matriarchal society are thrust into the worldwide economic downturn when they lose the only jobs they’ve ever known. Left with few options, Jua Ma and La Tsuo leave Beijing for home, a remote village in the foothills of the Himalayas. But home is no longer what it was, as growing exposure to the modern world irreparably changes the provocative traditions the Mosuo have built around their belief that marriage is an attack on the family. Determined to keep their mother and siblings out of poverty, one sister sacrifices her dream of an education and stays home to farm, while the other leaves to try her luck in the city. From Lijiang to Chengdu, Jua Ma’s interactions with rich Chinese businessmen, Tibetan gangsters, migrant workers and fledgling pop stars lead her on a precarious path that pits her hopes and dreams against bitter realities.

About the Filmmakers:

Marlo Poras (Director, Producer) began her film career as an apprentice to Thelma Schooonmaker at Martin Scorsese’s Cappa Productions and worked in the editing room on independent films such as Greg Mottola’s Daytrippers and Alison Anders’ Grace of My Heart. Later, she was living in Vietnam, producing teen oriented HIV/AIDS education films for The Population Council when she was inspired to make Mai’s America, her first film. Mai’s America received much critical acclaim and won numerous awards including the Audience Award for Feature Documentary at SXSW and Best Feature Documentary from the International Documentary Association (IDA). It aired on P.O.V., PBS’ award winning non–fiction showcase. Marlo’s next film, Run Granny Run aired on HBO and received the Audience Award for Feature Documentary at SXSW and the Special Jury Award at the Woodstock International Film Festival. Marlo also edited the Emmy Award nominated documentary The Flute Player and works as a camerawoman. She’s the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Yu Ying Wu Chou (Producer): A native of Taiwan, Yu Ying studied media and advertising before transitioning into documentary film editing. She spent five years collaborating in the editing room with David Sutherland on his PBS/Frontline series, Country Boys. She was a co-editor on HBO’s Run Granny Run and is currently co-editing David Sutherland’s latest PBS/Frontline series, A Kind Hearted Woman.