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Up The Yangtze

Yung Chang

2007

In China, it is simply known as “The River.” But the Yangtze—and all of the life that surrounds it—is undergoing a truly astonishing transformation wrought by the largest hydroelectric project in history, the Three Gorges Dam. Canadian documentary filmmaker Yung Chang returns to the gor- geous, now-disappearing landscape of his grandfather’s youth to trace the surreal life of a “farewell cruise” that traverses the gargantuan waterway. With Altmanesque narrative agility, a humanist gaze and wry wit, Chang’s Upstairs Downstairs approach beautifully captures the microcosmic society of the luxury liner. Below deck: A bewildered young girl trains as a dish- washer—sent to work by her peasant family, who is on the verge of reloca- tion from the encroaching floodwaters. Above deck: A phalanx of wealthy international tourists set sail to catch a last glance of a country in dramatic flux. The teenaged employees who serve and entertain them—now tagged with new Westernized names like Cindy and Jerry by upper manage- ment—warily grasp at the prospect of a more prosperous future. Singularly moving and cinematically breathtaking, Up the Yangtze gives a human dimension to the wrenching changes facing not only an increasing- ly globalized China, but the world at large.

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CREDITS

An EYESTEELFILM and NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA co-production
Featuring
Yu Shui ("Cindy") and Chen Bo Yu ("Jerry")
Written and Directed by
Yung Chang
Editor
Hannele Halm
Director of Photography
Wang Shi Qing
Music by
Olivier Alary
Associate Producers
Lixin Fan, Li Li
Production Supervisor
Michael Mk Siu
Produced by
Mila Aung-Thwin, Germaine Ying-Gee Wong (NFB), John Christou
Executive Producers
Daniel Cross, Mila Aung-Thwin, Ravida Din (NFB), Sally Bochner (NFB)
AWARDS

Winner of over 20 international awards

Genie award for Best Documentary

Golden Horse Award Best Documentary

Jury Prize Best Documentary RiverRun International Film Festival

Special Jury Prize Best Cinematography RiverRun International Film Festival

Golden Gate Award Documentary Feature San Francisco International Film Festival

Jury Prize Best Cinematography - Documentary Feature RiverRun International Film Festival

Jury Prize Best Documentary Feature RiverRun International Film Festival

Best Canadian Documentary Vancouver International Film Festival

Don Haig Award Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival

Special Jury Prize Documentary Feature VC FilmFest - Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

Cinema Eye Honors Award Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film

Cinema Eye Audience Choice Prize

Honorable Mention Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award Full Frame Documentary Film Festival

Nominee Joris Ivens Award International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)

Nominee Best Film Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema

Nominee Independent Spirit Award Best Documentary

Nominee Jutra Best Documentary

Nominee Emmy Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Cinematography

Nominee Grand Jury Prize World Cinema - Documentary Sundance Film Festival

Nominee Toronto Film Critics Association Award Best Documentary

NomineeToronto Film Critics Association Rogers Award

Honorable Mention Spectrum Award Full Frame Documentary Film Festival

Nominee Cinema Eye Honors Award Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography

Nominee Cinema Eye Honors Award Outstanding Achievement in an International Feature Film

Nominee International Cinephile Society Awards Best Documentary