Behind the Seams: a Laborious Journey

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MOVIE REVIEW
Youth (Spring)
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Genre: Documentary
Year Released: 2023, 2024 Icarus Films DVD
Runtime: 3h 32m
Director(s): Wang Bing
Where To Watch: coming to DVD on February 20th, 2024; pre-order your copy here www.icarusfilms.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Wang Bing's YOUTH (SPRING) is not your run-of-the-mill documentary. It's a deep, thoughtful plunge into the heart of China's textile industry, seen through the eyes and lives of the workers in Zhili. This film stretches over 212 minutes, but every minute is a stitch in the larger fabric of the story Bing is telling. It’s a marathon, sure, but it paints a vivid picture of both struggle and resilience, ambition and reality. On first viewing, it's clear: Bing isn’t just making a film; he’s crafting a legacy, thread by thread. And this is just one part of this more extensive exploration!

In the bustling industrial landscape of Zhili, Bing finds his canvas, following the lives of textile workers over five years from 2014 to 2019. The documentary zooms in on the youth entwined with these machines, some barely out of school, capturing their lives with a raw honesty that's both touching and troubling. While the sweeping scope of the documentary offers a panoramic view of their world, one can't help but wish for a closer inspection of a single factory's life to peel back the layers even further. I’m sure Bing was saddled with restrictions that would only allow specific stories to be told, but what could be shown was still amazing.

YOUTH (SPRING) straddles the line between a narrative of youthful aspiration and the grinding gears of factory work. It's here, in the valley of machinery, that Bing finds a symphony of human spirit. In their camaraderie and individual pursuits, the workers emerge as threads in the vast tapestry of China's workforce. Their daily grind, set against the backdrop of various machines, showcases the dual nature of their existence: mundane yet filled with moments of joy and shared dreams.

The documentary's runtime and focus on some of the repetitive tasks within the factories could be a double-edged sword. Crucial to the film's authenticity, these elements also stretch what some viewers may want to endure. The omnipresent hum of the machines serves as a constant reminder of the workers' environment, though at times, it feels like an endurance test for viewers as much as for the characters on screen.

Bing's approach to storytelling is both broad and intimate, capturing the collective struggle and individual stories within China's massive labor force. This method brings a nuanced understanding of the socio-economic forces at play, enriching the narrative with personal tales of love, friendship, and the quest for a better life amidst the harsh realities of industrial labor.

YOUTH (SPRING) offers a profound look into the life and labor of China's textile workers, balancing the weight of its subject matter with moments of human connection. Bing lays a robust foundation for his trilogy, promising an even deeper exploration into the fabric of Chinese labor. Beyond its documentary confines, the film stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of youth, facing formidable challenges yet daring to dream bigger.

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[photo courtesy of ICARUS FILMS]

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