Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. The documentary To My Nineteen-year-old Self, which followed six students from an elite girls school for a decade, has recently come under fire for its questionable filming ethics. At the centre of the storm was one of the students filmed, Ah Ling, who denied ever giving consent for the film to be publicly screened. Another woman, Katie Kong , said she was misled into signing the agreement. The dispute serves as a compelling reminder that the director and filmed subjects of a documentary are co-constructors of knowledge – a relationship of mutual respect and cooperation. Any attempt at uncovering and representing the real must not be oblivious to the fact that it has the power to influence it. Director Mabel Cheung Yuen-ting’s ambitions for the project seemed to have derailed her from that relationship. But her documentary is very real, so the harm has been done. Sometimes, there can be no inoffensive way to search for the truth. A director might have to push boundaries, but crossing them is another story. The documentary could reach a wider audience if shown in public, but something should have been done to address the distress of the woman who did not want it to be shown, for example by removing sensitive segments from the film or making other editorial compromises. Equally problematic is the lack of clear consensus on the nature of the documentary when the initial agreement was signed years ago. How clear was it that the film could go public? How much power did the participants have to negotiate during the process? The decade-long production seems to have commenced without these questions being answered. It depended on the “consent” obtained from the girls’ parents when the students themselves were too young to understand the consequences. To My Nineteen-year-old-Self clearly went beyond being a mere school project the moment it was publicly screened. As such, it demands more sensitive treatment than a consent form signed by parents that has room for interpretation. It was the duty of the director as well as the school to set clear terms in advance. While Cheung’s documentary is undoubtedly well-intentioned, having its screening suspended might have been avoided if communication was handled with greater care. Continuous dialogue with the filmed subjects throughout the years could have ensured that everyone was on the same page and there would be no surprises at the end of the road. Fitzgerald Lo, Tai Po Regrettable that screening of documentary was suspended I refer to the report , “Director pulls documentary after complaint by student” (February 6). To My Nineteen Year-old Self is a very good production indeed. As an alumna of Ying Wa Girls’ School, I watched the film twice and found it deserving of the praise it has garnered. The film is full of encouraging messages and loving memories. I was saddened to hear it was pulled from cinemas. Director Mabel Cheung spent 10 years making the documentary. It is like a miracle of collective enthusiasm from different people associated with Ying Wa. It showcases the vision of the former principal of the school. What started as a venture with a great motive should not end in tragedy. A breakdown in communication between those involved in the film seems to be main issue. I hope all those affected will forget their pain and move forward. Rosanna Chan, Ap Lei Chau