Educational Media Reviews Online

This is not so much a documentary as it is a video pseudo-diary of several cliques of young adult Chinese textile workers. With neither narration nor exposition, this film takes the audience on a prolonged trek through the mundane yet trying daily lives of these individuals. They struggle with reaching for far off goals, like marriage and raising children, and facing the painful constraints and harsh realities of their lives. The audience sees times of frivolity, but also witnesses painful admissions, such as "I don't care if I live or die." As often as the film dwells on these young adults' personal lives, it always returns to footage at the workshops and the incessant hum of the sewing machines. The film regularly reinforces the pressures upon these workers to produce, all while dealing with deadlines, stress, inadequate resources, and pressure from management. While this is a potent theme, it is diluted by the sheer length of this film. One could say that the holistic approach of exploring these young adults' lives outside the workshop brings a global, inclusive look at their lives, but it becomes tedious, drawn out, and lacking impetus. The frequent, extended occurrences of banal dialog, sexual advances, and trifling away on cell phones, far outweigh the pointed, purposeful interactions.

This work undoubtedly demanded a great deal of effort, and the film makers deserve that recognition. Still, the format of the live unobtrusive camera as an objective eye does not work here. Frequent glances to the camera, remind the audience that the subjects of the film are well aware that they are part of this production. There are no interviews; this film is comprised of uninterrupted streams of "hidden camera." This film may be useful for an instructor who is willing to select one or more portions of the film to candidly show the dismal work conditions of Chinese textile workers. Aside from that, this work could have been effectively edited and/or reformatted into a compelling work less than three- and one-half hours in length.

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