Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks (Parts 1 and 2)

Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks (Parts 1 and 2)

2003. China. Directed by Wang Bing. The most monumental achievement in the Chinese new documentary movement to date, Wang Bing’s three-part, nine-hour portrait of an industrial wasteland made the top 100 in the 2012 Sight & Sound Greatest Films of All Time poll. Once the heart of state-run heavy industry, Tiexi district, in the northeastern city of Shenyang, is now a scene of decay, as economic reforms, bankruptcies, relocation, and demolition have left many factories empty and entire communities jobless. Filmed over two years, the film is a testament to Chinese documentarians’ commitment to a deceptively simple film technique, one that patiently peels away everyday surfaces to reveal rich layers of history and culture. Courtesy of Documentary Educational Resources. In Mandarin; English subtitles. 370 min., plus 60 min. intermission at 185 min.