Media Releases
Seven stories of love, humility, and sacrifice in new documentary series Farewell Guangdong
Released at 10:59 am on 28 January 2025
16x9 Farewell Guangdong trailer thumbnail (for Brightcove) Photo: Tawera Productions / RNZ
Launching tomorrow to coincide with Chinese New Year, Farewell Guangdong is a celebration of women from the Chinese New Zealand community and their harrowing journey to New Zealand.
Based on the book by Lily Lee, Farewell Guangdong uses dramatic re-enactments, interviews with surviving family members and archive footage to bring to life seven first-hand accounts of families who fled the second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945).
Through the retelling of family stories by the daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters of the women who arrived, viewers can learn remarkable stories of survival but also see the legacy that these brave women left behind.
Director Lynda Chanwai-Earle says bringing Lily Lee’s book to the screen is deeply personal.
“The stories told in Farewell Guangdong are my own family’s story too. My Po Po (grandmother) fled Canton with my mother who was just a baby. It has been an incredible experience collaborating with Lily’s family and our Chinese community to share these women’s stories through their female descendants. We’re celebrating four generations of our mana wāhine in this series!”
RNZ’s Commissioning Manager Tim Burnell says the series shines a light on a part of New Zealand’s history that’s not well understood.
“It’s important to understand this part of New Zealand history and the sacrifices these women and their families made to seek refuge with their husbands, then to settle in Aotearoa which laid the foundations for subsequent generations to flourish. We look forward to the series connecting not only with New Zealanders of Chinese heritage, but with all people interested in our own, unique history.”
Farewell Guangdong was produced for RNZ by the award-winning Tawera Productions and made with the support of NZ On Air. Original music for the series was composed by celebrated Chinese musician David Yan using traditional Chinese instruments. Each episode includes calligraphy and painting by Chinese artist Stan Chan.
Farewell Guangdong launches on Wednesday 29 January on rnz.co.nz/farewell and RNZ YouTube.
Production credits:
Director: Lynda Chanwai-Earle
Producer: Toby Mills
Co-Producer/ Author: Lily Lee
Editor: Peter Lee
