In researching Chinese and Western media coverage of the Sichuan earthquake, I didn’t find any Chinese coverage of the shoddy schools. The stories were censored. Chinese journalists from magazines, newspapers, radio and television stations flooded Sichuan Province and provided the Chinese public with unprecedented coverage. The coverage was heavy on facts, with daily updates on the quake’s destruction and rising death toll. Victims of the earthquake were photographed extensively, feeding the public very bloody, very tragic tales of loss. The stories always ended with hope: Hope to get over this time to trouble, hope to rebuild destroyed towns, hope to make a better China.

Part of this showed the persistence and hard work of the press. A large part of this was also the unprecedented access the Chinese government allowed. For the first time, Chinese officials were available for comment outside of official press conferences. Chinese President Hu Jin Tao and Premier Wen Jia Bao, visited the earthquake region — they were photographed and seen by reporters talking to victims in hard-hit Beichuan, Wenchuan and Chengdu. Premier Wen Jia Bao, affectionately known as the compassionate “Uncle Wen”, toured the ruins in his running shoes, ordering troops through a megaphone, comforting victims, crying and hugging children and he even invited foreign journalists to shout questions to him as helicopters flew past in the distance — a great photo-op.

But then both Chinese and Western journalists started to ask some more critical questions: Why did the elementary schools in Sichuan province crumble so quickly, killing thousands of children? Did the government, in its rapid drive towards modernization, build schools poorly? There was outcry from mothers and fathers, which within weeks turned to organized protests, demanding an investigation.

While mainland Chinese media were ordered not to report on this, Hong Kong and Singapore newspapers continued talking to grieving mothers. In the headlines, parents described the schools to be as flimsy as “Tofu residue.” You see this very protest in the documentary.

One mother who lost her 10-year-old daughter cried: “We will come here every day. The children are here. We hope to stay with our children here until someone comes forward with an explanation.” 

The film highlighted a number of issues, the most profound being that there is a striking resilience among the Chinese people who are willing to stand up, demand answers, and hold their governments accountable. The film spoke to the strength of Chinese peasants, who continue to endure many hardships and sufferings.

China’s Unnnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province airs on Thursday, May 7 at 8pm on HBO. Don’t miss it.