“In 'West of the Tracks' I revealed the plight of workers; in '‘Til Madness do us Part', life in a psychiatric asylum; in 'Bitter Money', I recounted the adventure of young immigrants looking for work on the east coast. 'Dead Souls' covers a specific period in history, a specific event that I wanted to document in a detailed way because it is still only partially known. It goes without saying that when you make a film, you try to touch upon something universal and in a some way, timeless. The testimonies that make up 'Dead Souls' belong to the history of humankind.“ - Wang Bing