Synopsis
From acclaimed director Wang Xiaoshuai (Beijing Bicycle; So Long, My Son) comes a personal snapshot of contemporary China in all its diversity. Shot over the course of ten years on both film and video, the film consists of a series of carefully composed tableaus of people and environments, each one more extraordinary than the last.
Pedestrians shuffle across a bustling Beijing street, steelworkers linger outside a deserted factory, tourists laugh and scamper across a crowded beach, worshippers kneel to pray in a remote village. With a painterly eye for composition, Wang captures China as he sees it, calling to a temporary halt a land in a constant state of change.
Reviews
"A stunning trip through modern China, a vast country with a diverse population and landscapes. "
-Alissa Wilkinson, VOX
"A spellbinding snapshot of a time and place, both of which are rapidly disappearing. "
-Patrick Gamble, Kinoscope
"More than just chronicling a country in transformation, Chinese Portrait signals seismic shifts in cinema as well. "
-Clarence Tsui, The Hollywood Reporter
Press Materials
High-Res Stills and Poster
Press Kit
Press Release
Where to watch
Opens Dec 13
Playdates
Jan 24-30: The Beacon - Seattle, WA
Jan 24-30: Lark Theater - Larkspur, CA
Jan 25-26: Pickford Film Center - Bellingham, WA
Jan 31-Feb 6: 4-Star Theatre - San Francisco, CA
Jan 31-Feb 6: Facets Cinematheque - Chicago, IL
Jan 24-30: Lark Theater - Larkspur, CA
Jan 25-26: Pickford Film Center - Bellingham, WA
Jan 31-Feb 6: 4-Star Theatre - San Francisco, CA
Jan 31-Feb 6: Facets Cinematheque - Chicago, IL
Festivals & Awards
Official Selection – Doc Fortnight, MoMA, 2019Official Selection – True/False Film Festival 2019
Official Selection – Busan International Film Festival, 2018
Official Selection – International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, 2018
Official Selection – Hong Kong Asian Film Festival, 2018