'Almost Heaven': a UK documentary opens window to Chinese funeral service and a teenage mortician's life
CGTN
["china"]
Death and afterlife services are often seen as sensitive topics in China, but a newly released documentary film "Almost Heaven" has challenged the taboo, offering a behind-the-scenes look at a Chinese funeral home and telling a personal story of a teenage mortician’s life.
The documentary chronicles the life of 17-year-old mortician trainee Ying Ling, who left her hometown to seek life in Changsha City in central China’s Hunan Province. Despite being afraid of ghosts, Ying has taken up an apprenticeship as a mortician at a large funeral home, learning to wash dead bodies, arrange funerals and tend to families in mourning while trying to find her own place in the world.
Ying Ling (L) practicing massaging on a colleague. / “Almost Heaven”  Documentary Film Trailer

Ying Ling (L) practicing massaging on a colleague. / “Almost Heaven”  Documentary Film Trailer

The film is directed by British film director Carol Salter, who was inspired to create the work after reading about Chinese youngsters seeking job opportunities in the funeral service industry. In an interview with BBC, she explained that funeral service is a family business in the UK and few young people would favor the career.
With help from friends, Salter got in touch with some Chinese morticians and chose Ying Ling as her protagonist. 
Screenshot of the film trailer.

Screenshot of the film trailer.

"She’s so pure and lively. Leaving her hometown to a strange city while facing bodies and funerals every day, she managed to accept the job, study hard, respect the dead and soothe the relatives. I was really attracted by her so decided to film her daily routine for the film," Salter told BBC.
During three years of shooting, Salter admitted both she and Ying had struggles. While the director had to confront losing her parents, the teenage girl went through a thorny passage of finding her independence and growing up.
 “Almost Heaven”  Documentary Film Trailer

 “Almost Heaven”  Documentary Film Trailer

The film debuted at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival and won two nominations. It has been officially screened in cinema starting September 14 in the UK.
While the film centers around Ying Ling, it also sheds light on the Chinese funeral culture and afterlife services. 
"In Chinese funeral culture, people are more respectful to the deceased," Chinese paper Cankaoxiaoxi quoted Salter. "The morticians spend time massaging, beautifying and even talking to the bodies. It’s a great comfort to the relatives and deeply touched me."
By the end of 2016, an estimate of 47,000 people worked at 1,775 funeral homes across China, according to data released by China’s ministry of civil affairs.