Review of Up the Yangtze (2007) by Nata?A L — 30 Jan 2010
Very much to my surprise, this film did not work for me. Obviously the extremely harsh condition of Yu family is worthy of viewers' sympathy and compassion, and father Yu's facial and physical expressions tell a thousand stories of struggle all in a glance. But in the process of telling the story of one family's struggle, the film ceased to be one about the Yantze. Also, by focusing on an extreme case in a difficult/complex situation, the film ran the risk of alienating itself from the larger story/issue. Personally, I found this to be too narrow a view. While there were moments that touched me, there are just as many moments that bored me.
It seems to me that the film maker set out to tell the story of changing time/world from individual perspectives, but found only one compelling(the other story line is quite weak).
To put things in perceptive I did kind of come form similar background, and I feel others might easily have a different opinion about this film, but if you havn't watch Manufactured Landscape, watch that instead.
This review of Up the Yangtze (2007) was written by Nata?A L on 30 Jan 2010.
Up the Yangtze has generally received very positive reviews.
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