About this Event
Letter from Masanjia
An Oregon mom of two, Julie Keith, found an SOS message from a Chinese dissident in a package of Halloween decorations from Kmart. The desperate note was written by a political prisoner named Sun Yi, from inside China’s notorious Masanjia labor camp. On the crumpled page that traveled over 5000 miles, he details being jailed for his spiritual beliefs and how he is being subjected to torture and brainwashing tactics. His message goes viral and miraculously leads to the closure of China’s entire labor camp system. But their story is far from over.
Peabody-winning Canadian filmmaker Leon Lee is not welcome in his native country because of his prior films about China’s human rights abuses. So, in Letter from Masanjia, he teaches Sun Yi to use camera equipment via Skype. For over a year, Sun Yi secretly captured harrowing footage of his daily life as a human rights defender, leading up to his tense run from the Chinese authorities. Meanwhile, just outside Portland, Julie Keith is struggling with her own dilemmas as a mother newly embroiled in this cause. Together, these unlikely heroes expose China’s ongoing persecution of millions whose ideology differs from the Chinese government.
Join us for an incredible movie screening of Letter from Masanjia! This gripping documentary takes you on a journey through the life of a Chinese political prisoner who smuggled a desperate letter pleading for help in a Halloween decoration. Be prepared to be moved, inspired, and shocked by this eye-opening film.
“An important story, made more intense by its tight focus... well told”
– Ken Jaworowski, The New York Times
“A powerful tale of human suffering, compassion and perseverance”
– Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
Documentary Awards
Letter from Masanjia has won at least 10 international awards and received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Feature Length Documentary in 2019. The film has had successful screenings in America, Canada, Japan, Hungary, Taiwan, Spain, Australia, Denmark, Mexico, and more.
“An example of documentary at its most aspirational” – Andrea Gronvall, The Chicago Reader
Screening Date: Friday, November 7, 2025
Screening Time: 5:15 - 6:30 PM
Location: In-person at Coffman Memorial Union Theater
RSVP: Please register here on EventBrite or if you're with the University of Minnesota, register on GopherLink using the QR code on the front picture.
Don't miss out on this thought-provoking event! Grab your popcorn and get ready for an unforgettable evening.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Coffman Memorial Union Theater, 300 Washington Avenue Southeast, Minneapolis, United States
USD 0.00
