Up the Yangtze (2007)

At the edge of the Yangtze River, not far from the Three Gorges Dam, young men and women take up employment on a cruise ship, where they confront rising waters and a radically changing China.

Director:

Yung Chang

Writer:

Yung Chang

Stars:

Jerry Bo Yu Chen, Campbell Ping He, Cindy Shui Yu

14 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Jerry Bo Yu Chen	...	Himself
Campbell Ping He	...	Himself
Cindy Shui Yu	...	Herself

Storyline

A luxury cruise boat motors up the Yangtze - navigating the mythic waterway known in China simply as "The River." The Yangtze is about to be transformed by the biggest hydroelectric dam in history. At the river's edge - a young woman says goodbye to her family as the floodwaters rise towards their small homestead. The Three Gorges Dam - contested symbol of the Chinese economic miracle - provides the epic backdrop for Up the Yangtze, a dramatic feature documentary on life inside modern China.

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Plot Keywords:

china | three gorges dam | hydroelectric dam | cruise ship | yangtze river | 

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Taglines:

The river that erased her past will write her future

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English Mandarin

Release Date:

11 July 2008 (Poland)

Also Known As:

Anevainontas ton Yangtze

Filming Locations:

China

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,851, 27 April 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$783,416, 26 October 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eye Steel Film, National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (35 mm version)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Confucius: By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest.

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Connections

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User Reviews

No big statement, just basic realism to very strong effect.

For such a slow paced documentary, you might at first doubt it's ability to draw you in. Initially, I watched the film because I somehow expected it to be one man's journey into the depths of China. But, no, it's not really about that. Instead of diving into China as a geographical location, "Up the Yangtze" concerns itself with the culture and politics of modern China as it affects the average citizen.

Two characters are central to this documentary's narrative. 'Cindy' who lives with her family in a shack beside the rapidly rising river, and 'Jerry' who comes from a higher standard of life in the city. They both find themselves working on a cruise ship which goes up and down the Yangtze river. The passages which deal directly with the ship and ship's passengers are rather revealing. The tourists come off largely as self-absorbed and unimaginative people with far too much money. They seem to all share peculiarly uninterested attitudes. This comes in rather stark contrast to the locals' acute awareness of their situation.

There are several interviews throughout the course of the film that reveal a darker side than might first be visible. This is particularly poignant during an interview carried on with a shopkeeper while a heated argument goes on outside.

Certain limitations are apparent in such a focused documentary, but it's very interesting and more than worth your attention.

RATING: 7.0 out of 10