Review of Up the Yangtze (2007) by Stuart P — 09 Nov 2009

Wonderful documentary. This is very similar to the equally stunning Manufactured Landscapes in that it captures the rapid industrialization of China, a truly depressing sight to behold, in an incredibly emotional, matter-of-fact and visually gorgeous way.

A corrupt, government-initiated hydroelectric project will force rural farming families out of the banks of the Yangtze River. Two young people in different socioeconomic backgrounds take a job at a cruise ship serving mostly wealthy tourists. Most of the focus is on the poor girl, Yu Shui. Leaving her parents behind to deal with the imminent flooding, she tries to blend in and serve the affluent crowd, and it's a pretty perfect way to explore the overall transition from the rural tradition of the past to the "progress" of urban consumerism.

The film is also technically well-crafted, favoring simplicity over bombardment. The more intimate scenes between the families kind of resembles well-shot dramas, and the numerous footage they capture, from the police-civilian conflicts in the streets to the incredible time-lapse video of the flooding in the end (heads-up: there's more of these at the DVD extras as well) add a lot of depth and insight into what's really going on.

Up The Yangtze is everything a good documentary should be: it's fascinating, it introduces you to new people, ideas, and perspectives, and it's emotionally engaging without being manipulative. See it.