(Copyright: Walking in Love Documentary Project)

Expression, a seven-minute documentary made by Han Xiaoxing of Ningbo, recently premiered at the annual Capital City Film Festival in Michigan, the United States. The documentary was met with enthusiastic applause, with many audience members being moved to tears. 

The documentary is told from the perspectives of a rehabilitation therapist and a social worker, who show how the Ningbo Min Kang Hospital, a mental hospital in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, uses a unique form of therapy to treat mentally-disturbed patients by encouraging them to express themselves through painting.

Han Xiaoxing is originally from Ningbo but works in Michigan. She loves photography and initiated the Walking in Love Documentary Project to capture heartwarming stories from around the world. Expression is a part of this project. 

On the recommendation of Mo Yimin, deputy director of the external cultural exchange association of the city's Haishu district and a strong supporter of charity, Han visited the hospital with an American photographer at the end of 2017 and started to film the documentary.

"At first, we just wanted to help patients ease their minds and bring some joy into their lives through painting," said Gao Aiju, director of the hospital's rehabilitation department, "but their full potential was gradually revealed with the help of volunteers." 

The hospital even held an exhibition at Ningbo Museum in July 2017 showcasing more than 110 paintings made by over 50 mental patients.

"By showing their paintings, we hope more and more people will gain a better understanding and hopefully compassion toward those with mental illness," said Gao.

The therapist in the video, Hu Li, has worked in the hospital for eight years. He expressed how much he cares for the patients and said was impressed by their paintings. 

"I used to treat them purely out of sympathy, but now I see them as family," said Hu. 

According to Mo Yimin, the cultural department of Michigan has sent an invitation to Han, hoping to exhibit the patients' paintings. The government of Michigan also expressed willingness to organize local artists to Ningbo for an exchange.