A short film about an HIV positive construction worker won the hearts of the audience at its launch ceremony on November 25, 2008. The film is the centerpiece of an HIV/AIDS prevention campaign targeting migrant workers.

Zhang Xiaohu (right), together with director Gu Changwei (left) and movie star Wang Baoqiang (middle) are posing for photos at the launch ceremony of a HIV/AIDS prevention campaign targeting migrant workers in Beijing on November 25, 2008. [Wang Zhiyong/China.org.cn]

The Chaplinesque film tells the story of Zhang Xiaohu, a construction worker shunned by his co-workers and friends because he has HIV. Cannes Film festival winner Gu Changwei directed, and leading movie star and former migrant construction worker, Wang Baoqiang, who comes from the same town as Zhang, appears as himself to promote the message of tolerance, acceptance and safer sex among migrant workers. In the end Zhang is accepted by his co-workers and the townsfolk.

It is the first time that a real HIV carrier has appeared in a public service film produced in China. Zhang, who was infected with the AIDS virus in 2002, won unanimous praise of the audience for his unprecedented bravery. More

(China.org.cn November 27, 2008)