Review of Up the Yangtze (2007) by Josh K — 18 Jul 2008
Solid documentation of an impoverished rural family's wrenching transition to modern capitalism, as the Chinese state dams the Yangtze river and the family is forced to relocate. They send their daughter to work on a tourist ship that cruises up and down the river that is about to engulf their hut and land.
Yung Chang has to juggle three stories--the parents, the daughter, and a middle-class young man who also works on the ship. The film hints at the future trajectories of the two young people--the daughter will be consigned to working crap service jobs, while the assertive young man will carve out a nice spot for himself in the new economy.
Yung Chang captured some great images of the river and the dam; the rest of the film is a solid effort, but not earth-shattering. Still, this is must viewing for anyone concerned with poverty or inequality.
This review of Up the Yangtze (2007) was written by Josh K on 18 Jul 2008.
Up the Yangtze has generally received very positive reviews.
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