Supported by

The Atlantic Selects

How Chinese Refugees Saved the Sweet Potato

Aug 19, 2016 | 831 videos
Video by Loading Docs

Joe and Fay Gock fled to New Zealand in the 1940s from China. This rhyme-filled short documentary, How Mr. and Mrs. Gock Saved the Kumara, tells the tale of how they repaid their host country by rescuing a staple crop—the kumara, or sweet potato—after a disease had ravaged much of the country’s supply.

This film comes to us from the Loading Docs initiative, which supports 10 filmmaking teams to create three-minute, creative documentaries that tell New Zealand stories. This year's theme is change.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.

Author: Nadine Ajaka

About This Series

A showcase of cinematic short documentary films, curated by The Atlantic.

Series