Building Bridges is a portrait of Bill Youren, a Hawke's Bay farmer, peace activist and political organiser for the left — an unusual combination in conservative 1950s New Zealand. John Chrisstoffels' first feature-length documentary uses Youren's film footage, taken with a "trusty" 8mm camera, capturing his visits to China ( almost closed off to Westerners during the Cold War period) and his DIY farming techniques. In this trailer, biographer and co-scriptwriter James Beattie comments on how Youren's home movies provide an insight into Chinese society during a secretive time.