There are many reasons to review the trailer for Up the Yangtze today. First it was recommended viewing by one of our readers. Then it had the honor of being the first sale at Sundance. And now it’s about to have its first screening at Holiday Village (at 12:15 PM Mountain Time). The documentary, from Canadian filmmaker Yung Chang, has already played at a few film festivals, including the Vancouver International Film Festival, where it won the prize for Best Canadian Documentary, and it is now competing for the World Cinema - Documentary prize at Sundance. While it may be possible to see Up the Yangtze someday courtesy of its new distributor Zeitgeist Films (Manufactured Landscapes), the doc sounds like a safe bet for those of you looking for a quality non-fiction film to see while in Park City.
The film deals with China’s construction of the controversial Three Gorges Dam, a hydro-electric operation located on the Yangtze River that is significantly affecting the local environment and people. But Chang’s focus appears to be on the people, who are being forced to relocate or become exploited by the tourist trade. Not being too familiar with the issues related to the dam, it took me two viewings of the Up the Yangtze trailer to somewhat get what the doc is about (I was mostly perplexed by those awful tourists dressed in Chinese costume). It’s a good thing to be left a little confused by a trailer, though, especially if it leaves one curious enough to watch the video again. Now I am intrigued enough to want to know more, which should obviously be the goal for a documentary trailer. Variety’s John Anderson has already written that the DV cinematography in Up the Yangtze is “spectacular” and the Montreal Mirror’s Matthew Hays wrote that the film, “is one of those experiences that reinvigorates and restores your faith in the documentary film medium.”
After today’s screening, Up the Yangtze will also play in Park City tomorrow night, Sunday morning and Monday at noon. It is also screening tomorrow in Salt Lake City.
