24 City June 12, 2009

"Jia is one of the most original filmmakers working today."—Manohla Dargis, New York Times

Like Tulpan, this latest film by acclaimed director Jia Zhang-ke (Still Life, The World) is a fascinating mix of documentary and fiction. Once again Jia brilliantly chronicles China's rapid changes over the last half-century as he interviews workers at a state-owned munitions plant that is scheduled to be converted into a gargantuan luxury housing complex called 24 City. Seamlessly integrated into the artfully composed documentary scenes and interviews are scripted monologues by actors (including Joan Chen and Jia's muse, Zhao Tao). (112 mins., 35mm)

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