David and Isabel Crook, a legendary couple of foreign educators in China, were commemorated at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on Dec. 15, alongside the premiere of a documentary tracing their remarkable lives.

Li Hai, the secretary of the CPC Committee of Beijing Foreign Studies University, speaks at the commemorative and documentary premiere event for the Crooks in Beijing, Dec. 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of BFSU]

Isabel Crook, a Canadian recipient of China's Friendship Medal, the highest honor for foreigners, devoted over 90 years of her life to the country together with her husband, David, a member of the Communist Party of Britain. The couple arrived during the revolutionary period, witnessing and contributing to China's development while pioneering its foreign language education system. 

They taught under challenging conditions, trained urgently needed interpreters during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, and played a key role in developing New China's first college-level English curriculum and compiling the Chinese-English Dictionary. Their work, rooted in a deep belief in the Chinese revolution, shaped generations of diplomatic and language professionals. David Crook died in 2000 at the age of 90, while Isabel passed away in 2023 at the age of 108.

Directed by Gao Song and presented by BFSU, the documentary "We Choose China: The Life of David and Isabel Crook" was over four years in the making. Starting in 2014, the production team traveled extensively to revisit historical sites and collect archival materials, including from Canada. They also interviewed dozens of firsthand witnesses and scholars. Set against the sweeping transformations of the 20th century, the film chronicles the extraordinary journey of the Crooks.

Built upon rare photographs and archival footage, the film highlights key moments in their lives through reenactments, animation, firsthand accounts, and on-location filming. With warm and nuanced visuals, it portrays how, at every critical juncture, Isabel and David Crook chose China, dedicating their lives to its people and to education with unwavering commitment. Through these details, the "Isabel Spirit" — characterized by deep roots in China, a global vision, unwavering faith, and a lifelong dedication to nurturing talent — comes alive on screen as something both tangible and worthy of emulation.

Li Hai, the secretary of the CPC Committee at BFSU, said at the event that the Crooks’ choice to root themselves in China, their dedication to education, their unwavering faith, and their warmth in mentoring others with love are invaluable treasures transcending national boundaries. The documentary is not only a reflection on individual lives but also a microcosm of a grand historical era. He added that it is the shared responsibility of all faculty and students of BFSU to inherit this spiritual legacy and transform it into a force for fostering virtue and nurturing talent.

Participants pose for a group photo at the documentary premiere in Beijing, Dec. 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of BFSU]

At the premiere event, Shi Mainan, deputy director general of the Department of Foreign Expert Services at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, praised the Crooks as pioneering foreign experts in the early years of the People's Republic of China. She noted that they immersed themselves into rural China and documented its transformation, helping introduce China to the world. Their noble spirit continues to inspire a new generation of international friends to walk alongside China and deepen mutual understanding between civilizations, she said.

Zhao Lei, deputy director general of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges at China's Ministry of Education, also paid tribute to the couple, noting that they worked alongside the Chinese people and helped train numerous foreign-language and foreign-affairs professionals.

"Their outstanding contributions have been recognized with the highest national honors, and the documentary "We Choose China" serves as vivid teaching material for fostering virtue and nurturing talent in the new era," he said. "Their spirit will continue to inspire young people and international professionals to advance educational opening-up, serve national rejuvenation, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity."

The director of the documentary (second from right), a family member (second from the left), and faculty and student representatives (on the ends) take part in a discussion at the premiere event in Beijing, Dec. 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of BFSU]

Director Gao said that in his 30-year career, Isabel had been a unique and irreplaceable subject for him. Her purity of spirit and kindness had profoundly nourished him. 

Michael Crook recounted his parents' life experiences and choices in detail at the event. He said they had made China their home and affirmed their communist ideals through action.

During the event, which also marked the 110th anniversary of Isabel Crook's birth, the Crooks Scholarship was awarded. Established by the couple in 1996, it has supported hundreds of students over the past three decades. In 2025, Michael Crook renewed the donation agreement to continue this legacy.

Jia Wenjian, president of BFSU, pose with student winners of the David and Isabel Crook Scholarship at the commemorative event in Beijing, Dec. 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of BFSU]

Jia Wenjian, president of BFSU, presented certificates to the scholarship recipients. Student representatives said that the award is not only material support but also "a spiritual beacon," reminding them to cherish a love for knowledge, a deep affection for the people, and a sense of responsibility to the country — values exemplified by David and Isabel Crook.