September 2008
New Documentaries About China
Way of Fortune 《財富之道》
(China/2007/Director: Chang Chao Wei/73 min/CNEX)
Mandarin + English subtitles
The 2008 Beijing Olympics have really shaken up the Westerners. The Western world is both astounded and perplexed by this new China’s considerable wealth and prosperity. However, the dark realities hidden behind this glamourous new image of China are a drastically plunging stock market, an increasingly widening gap between the rich and the poor, and continued deterioration of the environment. What are the factors that led to this current economic boom? What is the driving force of fortune-making in Chinese history? How do Chinese people view money and wealth? What are the challenges China will have to face in the future? This documentary seeks answers to these important questions.
這是一部在歷史和全球視野下探討解釋中國經濟騰飛祕密的紀錄片。近20年的經濟發展使中國成為能夠影響世界市場的大國。與此同時，原本作為經濟起飛前提的「小康」或者「均富」的理念卻逐漸受到忽視，城鄉差距拉大、貧富不均、環境破壞等弊端逐漸顯現。造成今天華人經濟發展的歷史原因是甚麼？我們今天應該如何看待財富的意義、商貿的價值和金錢的歸宿？經濟發展帶來的新的困境，又將如何影響我們的未來？影片通過採訪、歷史照片、歷史影像等手段，試圖對上述問題做出解答。
Shanghai Quest 《尋夢上海》 
(America /2007/Director: Kim Taylor /78 min/)
Mandarin/ English + English / Mandarin subtitles
The film Shanghai Quest follows the aspirations of three Westerners as they turn the American dream on its end in Shanghai: Tom, an English internet entrepreneur; Benji, a Mormon from Utah who sings Cantonese- pop songs; and Casey, a nightclub and rave-party organizer from LA.
Shanghai, the Paris of the Orient in the 20’s and 30’s, is now the New York of the Far East. These three Westerners abandon their homeland to try and “make it” in China. The film provides us with an honest view of contemporary urban China and at the astonishing rate at which the city has undergone a “lifestyle revolution” since the economic reforms of 1992.
Shanghai Quest takes a look at the transformed modern Chinese society through the unique love-hate relationship of three outsiders living in this scintillating city. If they can make it there they’ll make it anywhere…
這部節奏鮮明的影片與《財富之道》可謂互為表裏。在一些西方人眼裏，崛起的中國宛若是東方的神秘金山，吸引着各路的淘金者。影片通過幾個年輕老外在上海的生活，展現了一個當代十里洋場的新淘金夢。
