Up the Yangtze

Although I was unable to attend the inclass screening, I watched Up the Yangtze on my own and was very interested in the material and information at hand. The audience was definitely in mind when this documentary was created. While the storyline was taking place in China, the majority of the film was in English and allowed the audience to really connect with the material. The comparison between the eastern and western cultures allowed the audience to feel empathy with the people affected by the dam, which was suppose to bring something positive to the area, when in reality it did not.

Sometimes documentaries can be drawn out and boring, but Chang did an excellent job making the information interesting and keeping the viewer hooked. The difference in culture always something I enjoy looking into. The characters of Cindy and Jerry had a relationship that mirrored the social norms of the time. The male dominance was evident through their friendship and was very similar to the ideals of the Chinese culture and the male dominance in that.

I also had to keep in mind that this is through the perspective of Chang, which can always be different from the perspective of other people. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, so the audience can take away what they wish from the different aspects of the documentary.

Up the Yangtze. Dir. Yung Chang. 2008. DVD. Zeitgeist Films.