New Castle

Xinbu—translated into English as New Castle—is a remote mountainous village in Shanxi province, China, where most of the inhabitants make their living in the surrounding lime and coal mines. It’s said that the village was first inhabited during the Ming Dynasty over 800 years ago. Now, its ever-declining population of 100 is being forced out, the ancient village destroyed. The village commission, implementing the government’s plan to build a new socialist countryside, is relocating all citizens into newly built row houses nearby. Director Guo Hengqi spent five years working in Xinbu. He returns there to document the controversial move, asking if new homes will bring the people happiness. Is the government’s narrative of a prosperous society consistent with how people really feel? New Castle is a poignant look at an increasingly common struggle across rural China. —Hot Docs