Comments on: Up the Yangtze

By: Lasix in racehorses.

Lasix in racehorses. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:58:01 +0000

Mag3 nuclear renogram with lasix administration….

Dallas lasix. Lasix….

By: Mix - Latest News And Top Headlines From Around The Web! » Blog Archive » DVD Releases for January 6th, 2008

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:29:36 +0000

[...] and wakes up the slave/wife of another man. Critical accolades appear to abound, and after Up the Yangtze I am freshly interested in all things [...]

By: Matthew Lucas

Matthew Lucas — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:56:43 +0000

I never thought it felt fake at all.

By: Andrew Wyatt

Andrew Wyatt — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:09:34 +0000

Nice review, Phillip. I think your observation about the slightly staged quality to the film's sharpest emotional moments is a fair one. I liked the film immensely, but this element also bothered me a little. I knew the film was a documentary when I bought my ticket, but sometimes I felt as though I was watching naturalistic fiction. Were all the conversations featuring "Cindy's" family truly captured in the spontaneous moment, or were they performed? It's an insightful, moving film, but at the same time I couldn't shake the sensation of tidy theater for the viewer's benefit that suffuses some scenes. My full review here.

By: Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:12:31 +0000

“I felt like I was watching a more tragic version of BIG BROTHER.”

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Film-Book dot Com

Film-Book dot Com — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:13:33 +0000

I watched a documentary on The Three Gorges Dam on the history channel. I had no idea a film was being made about it. I hope the flick shows up in my town.

By: Phillip Johnston

Phillip Johnston — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:27:29 +0000

I knew I’d get some flack for that observation and I feel like a real jerk for writing about the film in this way, but its truly the way I felt. Some of the interviews made me feel very uneasy and all the nicely framed shots (from multiple cameras) during moments with Cindy’s family seemed too pristine. Quite honestly, I felt like I was watching a more tragic version of Big Brother.

My favorite aspect of the film was the dynamic between the Chinese young people and everyone on the cruise ship. Very fascinating. Those opening and closing sequences, as has been pointed out, are quite fantastic too.

By: Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:45:11 +0000

Beautiful final paragraph Phillip, in fact the entire piece is suffused with a singular eloquence and a pointed insight into this wrenching documentary, which at this late juncture of 2008 is a very strong contender for film of the year for me.
I do understand what you are saying there about the extent of the emotional candor and freedom almost seeming “fake at times” but I didn’t quite read it that way.
The film’s authenticity, and cumulative effect, which culminated with that shattering final sequence, was it’s most persuasive aspect.

Your work gets better and better.

By: Allan Fish

Allan Fish — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:43:55 +0000

Nice piece, Philip. I rated it a little higher, but hey, can’t have everything.

By: Nick Plowman

Nick Plowman — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:22:33 +0000

I completely and utterly love this documentary, easily one of my favourites of the year. Okay, not easily, definitely.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:58:08 +0000

Very nice review of what I consider one of the top three documentaries this year, Philip (and I think I've seen pretty much everything but The Rape of Europa and The Singing Revolution). For scope and timeliness I don't think anything achieves what Yangtze does, in a similar way that last year's Manufactured Landscapes did. It was a bizarre experience to watch the Olympics after having seen those two. I'm sure Evan can relate some thoughts from his time in China as well. I find it interesting that you felt the interviews were staged. It's a valid point, just not one that I've yet seen addressed with this film, nor one that I personally observed. At first glance I can see why the interview with the shop owner was staged but I thought his pent-up emotional outburst was authentic. And the other sequences, like when the tourists toured the living or working area (I can't remember exactly what it was) - well that felt staged because it was. I couldn't believe people were so easily swallowing what the tour guides/ship employees were saying. Anyway, everybody can judge for themselves because Yangtze is going to be on PBS in the second week of October. In case you see it (or you already have) and your interested, there's always a very meaningful discussion afterward at the POV blog afterward. Just spreadin' the word...

By: Joseph

Joseph — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:14:49 +0000

Sounds interesting. I’ll definitely check it out sometime.