Chinese Documentary...?

[Engage]

Hey guys, I hope I'm not breaking any rules by making this thread.

I'd love to watch something that talks about Chinese History OR China in the current day OR China into the future.

Thanks for any help!

[reason108]

Originally Posted by Engage

Hey guys, I hope I'm not breaking any rules by making this thread.

I'd love to watch something that talks about Chinese History OR China in the current day OR China into the future.

Thanks for any help!

There are a couple of docs made for the Shaw Brothers movies that may be hard to track down at this point:

Cinema Hong Kong - Documentary Series: Kung Fu
Cinema Hong Kong - Documentary Series: Swordfighting
Chop Socky - Cinema Hong Kong

There is also a doc on HK stuntmen called: Red Trousers.


Now, if you are just talking about Chinese history in general (non movie related) then probably Netflix or something like that would be a best bet. Or, youtube. Or, PBS produced shows pertaining to the subject matter.

Happy hunting!

[Engage]

Thanks!

A documentary on current Chinese culture or where Chinese culture is heading would be great!

[iaf6]

There was a 2009 documentary called "Koppel on Discovery: The People's Republic of Capitalism" issued on both Blu-ray and DVD.

PBS issued a DVD documentary a couple of years before that called "China: A Century of Revolution".

Both of these items are available on Amazon (and third party vendors).

[darry]

Originally Posted by Engage

Thanks!

A documentary on current Chinese culture or where Chinese culture is heading would be great!

There is a blu called Wild China.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Wild-China-Blu-ray/777/

There is also A Bite of China, which I found better.
You might have to find that online somewhere.

[PGW]

Movie-wise, there was also a third "Cinema Hong Kong" disc focusing on Shaw Brothers called "Beauties."

IVL also put out a 2 disc set called "A Century Of Light & Shadow" - a survey of Chinese movie history.

[Engage]

I found this on Youtube:

Koppel on Discovery: The People's Republic of Capitalism - YouTube

Is this a legitimate video?

[Engage]

I recommend this:

Socialist China's Billionaire Playboys - YouTube

[DVD Phreak]

A 2-hour 2009 PBS documentary called "Young and Restless in China" (full video here).

A 2011 documentary called "The China Question" about the economic cold war between the US and China, first aired on CNBC. Several American and Chinese businessmen and women are interviewed about economy and Chinese human rights. You may find it on DVD and streaming at Amazon. DVD includes bonus interviews.

Here is a list of Chinese-made documentaries that I have yet to watch, but they seem to be highly regarded by the West and have got DVD releases in the US. I would add to this list the 2006 Oscar-winning documentary short subject "The Blood of Yingzhou District", about a little boy with AIDS infection.

As you notice, most of these titles and the ones before me were made in the 00s or before, which is quite a while ago. Their subject matters may be topical, meaning they may be relevant only at their times of release, so keep that in mind.

[Engage]

Thanks, but http://www.pbs.org/video/991233877/ seems to be only available in the USA so it won't work for me...

EDIT:
If you could recommend links from Youtube I'd REALLY appreciate it!

[Jerry Alien]

Kowloon Walled City (1988) - YouTube

Kowloon Walled City (1988)

http://gizmodo.com/5995070/kowloon-w...ty-of-darkness

[Engage]

Thanks for your reply, but that was released in 1988 so how is it relevant for 2016?

[DVD Phreak]

Originally Posted by Engage

Thanks for your reply, but that was released in 1988 so how is it relevant for 2016?

The Kowloon walled city has since been demolished so the documentary is still valuable for its valuable footage. Just make sure whenever you see an old doc, always look for updated info afterwards.

[Engage]

Thanks!

I've been trying to watch more Chinese documentaries on Youtube so any suggestions would be amazing!

[stobbart]

I moved to Beijing a few weeks ago and have watched a few of these youtube docs and they are all pretty bad and really only touch on the business side seen through foreign eyes.

If you want to get a handle of where China was as a society and where it is heading I don't think you are going to get it from a doc. You have to spend the time and watch independent Chinese films: "Today and Tomorrow", "Black Coal, Thin Ice", "Buddha Mountain", "Oxhide 1 &2", just to name a few. And also the earlier films of Zhang Yimou, Jia Zhangke, Chen Kaige, etc. And also watch the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Heck, you can even read interviews from Ai Weiwei. The opening ceremony on Ai Weiwei interviews are remarkable candid and to the point. And for the films you may have to pick up on the subtext a bit, but it is not hard. They are all pretty obvious what the filmmakers have to say about China.