Comments on Getafilm: REVIEW: Up the Yangtze (A)

Thanks for the send from LiC, Craig. It's not the ...

2008-05-15T10:46:00.000-05:00

Thanks for the send from LiC, Craig. It's not the happiest film of the year, but I think it's one that people should see at some point. China is going to be such a major presence in the world in the next 20 years. These kinds of things need to be known.

I was just typing up the Weekend Forecast and I ju...

2008-05-14T21:28:00.000-05:00

I was just typing up the Weekend Forecast and I just noticed this is opening in LA this weekend. I thought it had already come and gone. Woohoo!

I'll add it to my growing list of documentaries yo...

2008-05-08T20:40:00.000-05:00

I'll add it to my growing list of documentaries you should see, Craig. You're due for a marathon here pretty soon.

Thanks for stopping by, Matt. I'm so sorry that you have to live in Hawaii now. Ha, just kidding. For weirdos like us (speaking for myself), a decent movie market is as important as anything else when determining where to live, sometimes too much so. Hope you like it there, and that you catch Yangtze at some point.

Unfortunately Hawaii doesn't play the same range o...

2008-05-08T15:28:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately Hawaii doesn't play the same range of films as other places (like New York, where I just moved from) so I'll probably miss this documentary. Thanks for bringing it to my attention though because now I can at least look for it in the future.

Great review by the way.

Damnit. This one came and went already in LA.I'll ...

2008-05-08T14:52:00.000-05:00

Damnit. This one came and went already in LA.

I'll have to catch up to it on DVD.

Thanks for the visit, Matthew. I believe it's gett...

2008-05-08T13:37:00.000-05:00

Thanks for the visit, Matthew. I believe it's getting a limited theatrical release this summer. If not, you may be able to find it on PBS through the link above. Well worth it if you get the chance.

I missed this at my local film festival recently, ...

2008-05-08T02:43:00.000-05:00

I missed this at my local film festival recently, but really want to see it. It sounds great...just haven't been able to find it yet.

Fascinating insight, Evan. I'm sure you'll recogni...

2008-05-04T20:14:00.000-05:00

Fascinating insight, Evan. I'm sure you'll recognize much of Up the Yangtze from your experience - not of the river, but of the culture. I haven't seen The Singing Revolution, but I know what you mean about the thoughts you had afterward. We talk (complain) a lot about freedom and civil liberties here in the U.S., but rare are the occasions when the government knowingly displaces 2 million people. I also share your thoughts on the perils of communism, and this film can't be used as any defense of it.

I understood that Yung Chang grew up in Canada more than he did in China, but there's no explanation as to how he got the footage out of the country. Maybe he told the government it was a documentary about the Farewell Cruises, which could in some sense be considered positive for tourism. Who knows? In any case, such a tiny percentage of Americans will see this that it probably doesn't matter anyway.

Hopefully someone will read the review before clicking on the ad for the trip. I'll consider it my public service...

By the way, your Google adsense posted a link to a...

2008-05-04T10:19:00.000-05:00

By the way, your Google adsense posted a link to a company selling cruises up the 3 gorges before they're lost forever. Ironic, no?

Thanks for the great review Daniel. This one has b...

2008-05-04T10:18:00.000-05:00

Thanks for the great review Daniel. This one has been on my radar for a while now.

I actually grew up in China, spent 6 of my teenage years there. I've seen the Forbidden City (its actually quite dull), the Summer Palace, the stone soldiers of Xi An, and been to the Great Wall numerous times. My family never made the trip down the Yangtze, although friends of ours did.

In a perfect world, communism would be the ideal form of government. Everyone would share and share alike, no one would go hungry, life would be good. The early Christians were essentially communists. The only problem is that humans tend to get corrupted easily, and communism is nothing if not absolutely corrupting of those in power. "The good of the nation takes precedence over the lives of a few." The peasants should be encouraged! They're doing a great thing for the motherland!

I saw The Singing Revolution last night, a documentary about the long term effects of the Soviet occupation of Estonia following World War II, and it drove home to me how much I take my freedom for granted. It's easy to forget how blessed we are in America when you have politicians decrying how much things suck all the time.

It's amazing that this got made. I'd like to know the story behind how the filmmaker managed to get permission from the government to do this. The Chinese don't tend to like things that make them look bad.

Thanks, Nick. Glad to pique your interest, but kno...

2008-05-03T16:21:00.000-05:00

Thanks, Nick. Glad to pique your interest, but knowing you, you would have found it at some point anyway. It's an impossible film - truly hilarious and devastatingly tragic at the same time. And there's just that one sickening shot I "love" that's almost worth the price of admission alone.

Now this I want to see, and your review is what go...

2008-05-03T08:45:00.000-05:00

Now this I want to see, and your review is what got me really interested in the film.

I find myself saying "This I want to see..." so often now that it has almost become meaningless, but I will try to see "Up the Yangtze" as soon as possible.