Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks
9 /10 1 Votes9
Country China | 8.8/10 IMDb Duration Language Mandarin Chinese | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Release date 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks is a 2003 Chinese documentary film by Wang Bing. Over 9 hours long, the film consists of three parts, "Rust," "Remnants" and "Rails."
Contents
Tie Xi Qu was filmed over the course of two years between 1999 and 2001 and details the slow decline of Shenyang's industrial Tiexi district, an area that was once a vibrant example of China's socialist economy. With the rise of the free market and the move towards other industries, however, the factories of Tiexi have all begun to be closed down, and with them, much of the district's worker-based infrastructure and social constructs.
Although Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks is rarely seen due to its length, many critics have named it one of the best and most important films of the 2000s.
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"Rust"
The first portion, "Rust," follows a group of factory workers in three state-run factories: a smelting plant, an electric cable factory and a sheet metal factory. Workers of all three are hindered by sub-standard equipment, hazardous waste, and a lack of safety precautions. Perhaps even worse, the declining need for heavy industry results in a constant shortage of raw materials, leaving the workers idle and concerned for their future.
"Remnants"
The second part, "Remnants" follows the families of many of the workers in an old state-run housing block, "Rainbow Row." In particular, Wang focuses on the teenage children who concern themselves with their own lives but must also cope with their inevitable displacement as Tie Xi's factories continue to close down.
"Rails"
The third part, "Rails" narrows its focus to a single father and son who scavenge the rail yards in order to sell raw parts to the factories. With the factories closing however, their future suddenly becomes uncertain.
Reception
According to They Shoot Pictures, Don't They?, a website which aggregates critics' reviews, Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks is the 15th most acclaimed film of the 21st century. In a 2012 poll by the British Film Institute, eight critics named it one of the 10 greatest films ever made.
References
Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks WikipediaTie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks IMDb Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks themoviedb.org