Youth Trilogy (3-Disc DVD Box)

Wang Bing's Youth trilogy is a monumental documentary series which depicts the lives of young workers in the textile industry in Zhili, China, over five years from 2014 to 2019, capturing their grueling work, personal struggles and moments of hope amidst the harsh reality. Over 2,600 hours of footage were filmed and the result, nearly ten hours across three films, offers a deeply immersive, empathetic portrait of a generation caught between rural roots and urban exploitation, offering both great filmmaking and sharp social commentary.

YOUTH (SPRING)

IN COMPETITION – CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2023
WINNER – BEST DOCUMENTARY – GOLDEN HORSE FILM FESTIVAL 2023
WINNER – BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM – LA FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION 2023

Every year, a steady stream of young people from all over China come to the city of Zhili to seek employment in the textile industry. Long shifts, low pay and dormitory accommodation are the norm for most. We follow a group of such young people at work and in their free time. They share their dreams for the future, make friends and fall in love. Everything is observed from a distance by director Wang Bing and his film crew.

It has been nineteen years since a documentary last competed at Cannes. The unsentimental Youth (Spring) lets you get to know some of the people behind the label “Made In China”. The author is Wang Bing with works such as Dead Souls , based on interviews with survivors of labor camps for dissidents in northern China, and Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks which documented industrial workers' struggle for survival as the manufacturing industry changed. Youth (Spring) is the first part of a planned trilogy that in its complete form will probably reach ten hours of playing time.

5/6 “ Incredibly beautiful ” – Swedish
* * * * “ A kind of generational novel ” – DN
“ Outstanding ” – The Culture Blog
“ A collective novel in epic documentary film format ” – FLM
5/6 “ Unique time period ” – Swedish

* * * * “ Overwhelming experience ” – Time Out
8/10 “ Most important documentation of workers in the Chinese textile industry ever ”
–Paste Magazine
“ Fascinating ” – Variety
“ Immersive ” – Indiewire
“ Goes deep with rich portraits ” – Little White Lies
“ Monumental contribution to the documentary genre ” – The Hollywood Reporter

YOUTH (HARD TIMES)

WINNER – BEST DOCUMENTARY – VALLADOLID INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER – FIPRESCI PRIZE – LOCARNO FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER – YOUNG JURY PRIZE – LOCARNO FILM FESTIVAL

Wang Bing's Youth trilogy is a monumental documentary series which depicts the lives of young workers in the textile industry in Zhili, China, over five years from 2014 to 2019, capturing their grueling work, personal struggles and moments of hope amidst the harsh reality. Over 2,600 hours of footage were filmed and the result, nearly ten hours across three films, offers a deeply immersive, empathetic portrait of a generation caught between rural roots and urban exploitation, offering both great filmmaking and sharp social commentary.

SEWING MACHINES, FIGHTING WILL AND STRUGGLE

In the second part of Wang Bing's documentary trilogy about the lives of textile workers in contemporary China, the director captures the daily struggle for survival. It depicts the reality of low wages and harsh conditions. Some begin to explore the possibility of organizing collectively as China's economy booms without any visible effect on their wages.

* * * * ” Overwhelming and often impressive mosaic portraits "- Ebert.com
* * * * “ Characterized by a direct and personal approach ” – Slant Magazine

“ Wang’s camerawork is keen, intimate and personal ” – The New York Times
“ Peak and purposeful in both approach and execution ” – Variety
“ Conveys a strong sense of presence ” – Business Doc Europe

YOUTH (HOMECOMING)

NOMINATED – GOLDEN LION – VENICE FILM FESTIVAL

Wang Bing's Youth trilogy is a monumental documentary series which depicts the lives of young workers in the textile industry in Zhili, China, over five years from 2014 to 2019, capturing their grueling work, personal struggles and moments of hope amidst the harsh reality. Over 2,600 hours of footage were filmed and the result, nearly ten hours across three films, offers a deeply immersive, empathetic portrait of a generation caught between rural roots and urban exploitation, offering both great filmmaking and sharp social commentary.

Wang Bing's documentary trilogy features Youth (Homecoming) has reached the final part. Here we see the factory workers returning home to celebrate the New Year with their families. With a narrative spanning five years, the three films form a poignant portrait of what it can be like to live and work in contemporary China.

“ Wang’s latest post, for better or worse, captures the workers as they try to escape the drudgery of capitalism, which has reshaped and distorted them so much that it has become part of their very being. They have become the work—and returning to their cramped Zhili dormitories has become their homecoming. ” – Variety

* * * * “ Both sad and hopeful ” – Slant Magazine
" With its focus on romance and family life, the final part is the richest of the trilogy " – Ebert.com
“ The viewer is drawn into the world that is portrayed ” –The New York Times
" Quirky and beautiful " - Little White Lies
“ A conclusion that stands on its own two feet ” – Variety