SLIFF laurels Off Cinema Festive laurel Slamdance 2020 laurels

ASK NO QUESTIONS

A former Chinese state TV insider is held in a brainwashing camp and compelled to accept the official narrative on a fiery public suicide, which he believes was a government plot.

  • DIRECTOR

    Jason Loftus
    Eric Pedicelli

  • PRODUCER

    Jason Loftus
    Masha Loftus

  • Run time

    79 min

When Chinese state TV blames his faith for a fiery public suicide, Chen Ruichang is detained in a Clockwork Orange-style brainwashing facility and forced to accept the government’s account.

 

But Chen, a former insider of the state TV himself, believes it was all a government plot. A CNN reporter smuggled out footage of the event that day, but was then muzzled by Beijing. Now, her eyewitness testimony helps untangle an intricate conspiracy, as Chinese authorities begin pressuring the filmmaker’s family and business associates.

 

Ask No Questions shows the deadly power of media under authoritarian control. It also shows the remarkable power of an individual who refuses to compromise the truth.

“Dissects a dramatic event with clear arguments and reasonable analysis–it is very well done. Darkness must be exposed, and Ask No Questions can play a valuable role.”

AI WEIWEI

“The film is particularly relevant now… a cautionary tale about how hard it can be to come to the truth.”

SF WEEKLY

“I have been mesmerized since I happened upon this. As close to Black Mirror as you’ll find in non-fiction, it is a topical, necessary and important film.”

Jeffrey Radice, Slamdance Film Festival Programmer

“Reflects all the best qualities of true crime and documentary…a sort of cinematic Serial.”

FILMS GONE WILD

television

Awards

Winner
Phoenix Film Festival Copper Wing Award ‘Best World Cinema Feature’ 2020

 

Nominations
Rockie Award Best Documentary ‘Crime & Investigation’ 2021
Film Threat Award This – ‘Most Socially Relevant Documentary’ 2021
Slamdance Grand Jury Prize ‘Best Documentary’

Up next

Film

2017

Badass Beauty Queen

Inspiring human-rights documentary

Learn More