Synopsis
Filmed over the course of two years between 1999 and 2001 and details the slow decline of Shenyang’s industrial Tiexi district, an area that was once a vibrant example of China’s socialist economy. With the move towards other industries, however, the factories of Tiexi have all begun to be closed down, and with them, much of the district’s worker-based infrastructure and social constructs. Over 9 hours long, the film consists of three parts, “Rust,” “Remnants” and “Rails.”
“Rust”
The first portion, “Rust” follows a group of factory workers in three state-run factories: a smelting plant, an electric cable factory and a sheet metal factory. For workers at all three face sub-standard equipment, hazardous waste, and lack of safety precautions. Perhaps even worse, with the declining need for such heavy industry, the factories also face a constant lack of raw materials, leaving the workers idle and concerned for their future. —Wikipedia
Director
Wang Bing
Wang Bing (Chinese: 王兵; pinyin: Wáng Bìng) (born 1967 in Shaanxi) is a Chinese director, often referred to as one of the foremost figures in documentary film-making. Wang is the founder of his own production company, Wang Bing Studios, which produces most of his films. Wang’s 9 hour epic documentary of industrial China, Tie Xi Qu was considered a major success. Tie Xi Qu went on to win the Grand Prix at the Marseille Festival of Documentary Film and was shown for the first time in Spain at the Punto de Vista International Documentary Film Festival. Wang’s film, Fengming, a Chinese Memoir, premiered at both Cannes and Toronto in 2007. More recently Crude Oil premiered at the 2008 Rotterdam Film Festival. —Wikipedia
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Aquieu
13Dec11
“Great leaders past and future. Lead us to a grand new age. Oh! Guide us forward on our way. Onward to a grand new age. Sing The East is Red! Arise! The future is in our hands...” --- “ Let us tell a tale of spring. Reform and opening, great prosperity. Guide us forward on our way. Lead us to a grand new age. Hold the banner high. Here begins the future... Here begins the future!"
Gondo likes this
peder
9Jun11
Where do one get a hold of this? It isn't available for me on MUBI, and I can't seem to find it anywere else either.
Arsaib
6Apr11
"West of the Tracks — salvaging the rubble of utopia" by Jie Li: (http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc50.2008/WestofTracks/index.html).
John
8Mar11
I was expecting a political or historical film, but instead got a human film, comprised of human needs, plain and simple, and how many forms of social organization, left or right-wing, cannot fulfill them. A great movie, maybe a little laborious, but great indeed.
Mathieu Langlois likes this
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Articles
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Venice and TIFF 2010. Wang Bing's "The Ditch"
By David Hudson on September 9, 2010
"Having dealt at length with China's 'anti-rightist' campaign in his epic documentary Fengming: A Chinese Memoir, Wang Bing continues to
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Reviews
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The Camera does not betray
By Rohit on December 15, 2011
I would hate to view this as just a documentary. It would possibly shock the developed western world to see the hazardous conditions in which these workers work but the fact is that this is pretty… read review
Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks – Part 1: Rust
By House of Leaves on January 4, 2010
Begins mezmerizingly with the POV train shot. Everything is covered in snow—even the lens. I love that it is thus—it puts you in the environment very effectively. You feel the cold.
The train… read review
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The Wang Bing thread/Tie Xi Qu thread: A place to discuss and discover his work
64 posts by 17 people
over 1 year ago