Educational Media Reviews Online

This documentary investigates the effects the introduction of capitalism is having on Chinese society. As capitalism has spread from Shanghai and the special enterprise zones of the east to the outlying provinces, profits, and the luxuries that they can buy, become ever more important in China. One time red guards have made up for lost time and become wealthy businessmen. Communal enterprises are now listed on the stock exchange with former peasants living off of dividends. There is a growing gap between rich and poor, east and west, urban and rural. The rich fear the introduction of a wealth tax while poor young people abandon the countryside for jobs in the cities attempting to support the parents and siblings they have left behind.

Whether one calls it market capitalism or communism with Chinese characteristics the introduction of capitalism to China has brought about profound changes to Chinese society. Through interviews and colorful footage of homes and industries this documentary does a nice job of highlighting some of those changes. It also raises some important questions. Will China become a two-tier country with some services available only to those with great wealth? Will membership in the World Trade Organization affect China’s system of social security, its banking system, and public administration? Will corruption derail China’s economic modernization? Will the Communist Party be able to connect with the newly rich and control the changes that are taking place in China? As this film provides little in the way of background information it is best viewed by those with at least an introduction to modern China. Recommended as a vehicle to promote discussion and deemed appropriate for college and other libraries that would likely have an audience with a developed interest in China.