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.”
“Rails”
The third part, “Rails” narrows its focus to a single father and son who scavenge the rail yards in order to sell raw parts to the factories. With the factories closing however, their future suddenly becomes uncertain. —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
Wall
Displaying 4 wall posts.
DT
24Jan13
Rails: a final look at the social, infrastructural remnants of an industrial derelict, through the caretakers of the railroads, one of the last lifelines, the night watchmen once more; the tribulations, reminiscence of their lives, like Rust - yet a rummaged camaraderie stirs perseverance amongst the preserved kinship. But, the picture remains, in continuation to the Maoisms of Antonioni’s Chung Kuo Cina: the gulf between the ruling and working class, management and labour, beneath which only the economics have changed.
paolone_fr
22Aug12
a monument to digital cinema a monument to realism and documentary in cinema a monument to a country (a world) that (probably) doesn't exist anymore
Aquieu
14Dec11
Watching Yang break down in the restaurant was heartbreaking. I cannot imagine how any filmmaker could manage to make a film this encompassing and truly unbelievable when it was only their first project. Easily one of the greatest films ever made.
DT and Langston Young like this
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