I've been looking for this documentary for a long time. I couldn't find it at any video store or online to download and I've made the mistake of buying documentaries based on the trailer and being horribly disappointed in the past. So I was very happy to see this on Hulu. I wanted to see if they would explore the issue of religious suppression, and they do touch upon it a bit, but it seems that it's too difficult of a thing to cover without avoiding harassment or suspicion from authorities. The makers of this film do a great job of giving us a glimpse into the lives of these kids living in an orphanage in Xinjiang who aspire to be tightrope walkers and they tell a decent story. The film doesn't get lost in introducing a bunch of characters, filming a couple of events and then ending without any kind of conclusion, leaving one with the feeling that you've just seen a bunch of footage put together with out any unifying meaning. There is an arch and a satisfying conclusion.... One thing that intrigued me was the difference in teaching styles between the two coaches. The first coach was a professional and very experienced, but looked at the job as a way to scan for talent and make money. The second coach, although a little crazy and perhaps senile, kinda like Rocky Balboa's coach Micky, gave the kids encouragement and confidence. While he was a stern teacher, he joked with them and gave them advice about life. This movie gave me not just a glimpse into Xinjiang but also sense about what it means to be human and rise above your own fears.

The orphans tight roping dreams were captivating, and though I wasn't to interested in that aspect of this documentary, the tales of orphanages have always moved me. That aside, this was also a rare and very interesting look into a portion of a much overlooked "minority" of China, one not to many people know about, including myself.

these kids are amazing. This movie was a great inspiration and i will remember it for a long long time and hope to go there someday, even to just meet that type of people. People in poverty and difficult who still have humility and love in their hearts are pure gold. Thanks hulu for having this. Oh and Abliz