A starring role

Chen is a dab hand at operating the projector.

Residents in a community in Xuzhou, in East China's Jiangsu province, have been enjoying free classical movies from April to October every year since 2002.

The open-air cinema, located in the Xinhua residential community on Fuxing Road, is run by Chen Baomin.

Chen, 42, is confined to a wheelchair since he lost the use of his legs in an accident at work when he was 20. After the accident, he decided to open a video shop to make a living.

However, the shop did not attract many customers. "Since it was not making a profit I decided to do something for the public good," Chen said.

Chen offers free movies to residents in his community every night except when it is raining.

Chen initially played videos on his TV but viewers complained about the small screen. He then purchased a second-hand projector for 1,000 yuan ($156).

The films sometimes attract hundreds of viewers and Chen feels an immense sense of satisfaction when the movies are well-received.

"He has been offering free movies for eight years," said a neighbor. "However, it is not about them, but about his perseverance and positive attitude toward life."

Chen Qianyi, Chen's daughter, often accompanies her father during screenings. [Photo / China Daily]