Man Zou: Beijing to Shanghai
Preview Screening) festivel Movie Documentry
MAN ZOU: Beijing to Shanghai
Preview Screening
Average User Rating: Be the first to review this film! Director, Co-Producer, Editor,Jason Reid
Country: USA
Running time: 100 Minutes
Genre: Documentary
The story of four American friends and their Chinese guide who travel by bicycle between China's two largest cities to learn more about the people, their culture, and the rapidly changing environment in which they live. Q&A with filmmakers and afterparty to follow.
Reviews
Man Zou: Beijing to Shanghai is the story of four Americans who, immediately following the Olympics, travel by bicycle between China's two largest cities to learn more about the Chinese people, their culture and the rapidly changing environment in which they live.
Man Zou is a common phrase in Mandarin that translates literally to “Walk Slow.” Used as a farewell, it is a way of reminding another, ‘Be careful and mindful on your journey, and take the time to see things along the way. Walk slowly and you won’t fall.’ This philosophy guided our journey across China as we traveled slowly by bicycle, without an accompanying support vehicle, and took the time to listen to and learn from those we encountered.
Of course, while we moved slowly, everyone knows that China is doing just the opposite. The world’s most populous country, it has also become the leading carbon emitter and now boasts the world’s third biggest economy. Our travels introduced us not only to the bustling cities of Beijing and Shanghai, but also to the vast, natural beauty that lies between them. We saw first-hand the negative effects that the country’s rapid economic development have had on its environment, and were able to interview some of China’s top environmentalists about the country’s challenges going forward.
While the documentary proceeds chronologically, it slowly expands from an adventure film about bicycling in China to a broader examination of the many environmental, economic, and sociological challenges that country faces. Traveling by bicycle and conducting numerous interviews, we were able to capture an intimate and unfiltered look at parts of China that are typically flown over. Among the issues the documentary addresses are the divide between urban and rural Chinese, the environmental impact of China’s rapid growth, the relationship between China and the United States, and the plight of China’s migrant workers.
We filmed this documentary at a historic time for China, with Beijing basking in the afterglow of a hugely successful Olympics and the country emerging as an economic superpower. Because we traveled slowly, with open minds and continuous running cameras, we think that Man Zou will provide an intimate and detailed look at a country that we too often only see in short snatches from a distance. We also hope it will spark conversation about how we relate to the people, culture, and the country of China, and about how our countries can address the environmental perils we both face.
