All Eyes and Ears

back to all films

book this film

watch trailer

“Assured and accomplished.”

Tribeca Film Festival

“Ambitious.”

— Jason Bailey,

Flavorwire

“An Essential Document.”

— Charles Trapunski,

Scene Creek

“A Must-See.”

— Ellen Killoran,

Forbes

“Fascinating.”

— G. Allen Johnson,

San Francisco Chronicle

All Eyes and Ears

2015 | USA / China | 90 min

ABOUT THE FILM

LONG SYNOPSIS

A timely exploration into the complex links between the U.S. and China, Vanessa Hope’s documentary feature debut evokes the personal and the international with its accent on diplomacy, activism and individual experience. Interspersed with remarks from journalists and experts, ALL EYES AND EARS interweaves the stories of U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, his adopted Chinese daughter, Gracie Mei, and blind legal advocate Chen Guangcheng as they find purpose, identity and resolve amid the two nations’ evolving relationship.

The film follows Huntsman and his family during his tenure as ambassador. As he contends with achieving diplomatic goals in balance with the two countries’ interests in national security and economic growth, teenager Gracie gathers a more intimate understanding of her own cross-cultural identity. Meanwhile, Hope traces Chen Guangcheng’s journey — from being under house arrest to his highly publicized asylum at the U.S. Embassy — highlighting the activist’s thoughts on China’s ambitions as an emergent world power. ALL EYES AND EARS adroitly illuminates the delicate, intersecting layers of history, ideology and politics at play behind current diplomatic maneuvers.

“Vanessa Hope’s film ALL EYES AND EARS brings all the different dimensions of America’s contentious relationship with China together in one film. The students in my course on Chinese politics at Berkeley found it a fascinating complement to their academic readings. Students were thrilled to have Ms. Hope visit our class to answer questions about the film and talk about some of her harrowing experiences operating as an independent filmmaker in China, calling it ‘exciting’ and ‘one of the most memorable times I have had at Berkeley.’”

—Peter Lorentzen, Assistant Professor of Political Science, UC Berkeley

“The period 2009 to 2011 can now be seen as the twilight of one era and the dawn of another. But across the end of President Hu’s term in office and the start of President Xi’s there are some issues that stay the same, for all the differences the primacy of the relationship for China with the US, and the many sticking points in that relationship. This fascinating film, which was born from excellent access to Ambassador John Huntsman during his time in China, shows on a very personal level how someone at the heart of the relationship over this period navigated the various perilous shoals and rocks in the relationship, and how they maintained a positive, optimistic outlook. Anyone interested in the most important relationship in the world today should see this charming and engaging documentary.”

—Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute, King’s College, London. Associate Fellow, Chatham House, London

Writer & Director Vanessa Hope
Producers Geralyn White Dreyfous, Carlton Evans, Ted Hope, Vanessa Hope
Executive Producers Jim Swartz, Susan Swartz
Co-Executive Producer Greg Brockman
Co-Producers Cassandra Jabola, Thomas Mai
Associate Producers Joel Blanco, Diana Dougan, Emily Oestricher
Editors Paul Frost, Todd Holmes, Dalan McNabola, Michael Taylor
Cinematographers Magela Crosignani, Laura Hudock, Michael Simmonds
Sound Jen Ralston, Doug Winningham
Music Daron Murphy
Cast Gracie Mei Huntsman, Jon Huntsman, Jr., Chen Guangcheng, Christian Bale, Jimmy Carter, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Zhou Enlai, Timothy Geithner, Abby Huntsman, Asha Bharati Huntsman, Jon Huntsman III, Liddy Huntsman, Mary Anne Huntsman

FESTIVALS
2015: Tribeca

FESTIVAL TERRITORIES
The World

EXHIBITION FORMATS
DCP, Blu-Ray, DVD

Subnavigation

ABOUT THE FILM

PRESS KIT

Download Press Kit

AVAILABLE PRESS IMAGES (click to preview)

DOWNLOAD IMAGES

DIALOGUE LIST

EMBED TRAILER

WEBSITE