Ghost Town
China • 2h 47m
Directed by Zhao Dayong • Documentary • 2012 • 169 minutes
A remote village in southwest China is haunted by traces of its cultural past while its residents piece together their existence.
Zhiziluo is a town barely clinging to life. Tucked away in a rugged corner of Yunnan Province, Lisu and Nu minority villagers squat in the abandoned halls of this remote former Community county seat. Divided into three parts, this epic documentary takes an intimate look at its varied cast of characters, bringing audiences face to face with people left behind by China's new economy. A father-son duo of elderly preachers argues over the future of their village church. Two young lovers face a break-up over harsh financial realities. A twelve year-old boy, abandoned by his family, scavenges the hillside to feed himself.
"Directed with scrupulous attention to detail by Zhao Dayong"—Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
Up Next in China
-
Girls Always Happy
Directed by Yang Mingming • Drama • With Yang Mingming, Nai An • 2018 • 116 minutes
Rising Chinese director Yang Mingming both directs and stars in GIRLS ALWAYS HAPPY – a mother-daughter story that goes for the jugular.
Wu (Yang Mingming) and her mother (Nai An) live in a Beijing hutong – an ol...
-
The Iron Ministry
Directed by J. P. Sniadecki • Documentary • 2014 • 83 minutes
Filmed over three years on China's railways, J. P. Sniadecki's masterful documentary traces the vast interiors of a country on the move: flesh and metal, clangs and squeals, light and dark, language and gesture. Scores of rail journey...
-
Jinpa
Directed by Pema Tseden • Drama • With Jinpa, Genden Phuntsok, Sonam Wangmo • 2019 • 87 minutes
This is a story of revenge and redemption.
On an isolated road passing through the vast barren plains of Tibet, a truck driver who has accidentally run over a sheep chances upon a young man who is hi...
