Wang Bing’s Youth (Spring) – 2023 Cannes Critics’ Panel: Day 2
One of the two documentaries selected for the competition (this is more of a traditional docu whereas the other is considered a hybrid), Wang Bing comes to Cannes packing two films with competition selected Youth (Spring) being joined by the much shorter Man in Black. Bing’s previous trips have been with a pair of Special Screenings at the fest with Fengming, Chronicle of a Chinese Woman (2007) and Dead Souls (2018). He was also part of the Directors’ Fortnight in 2007 with The State of the World and Brutality Factory.
Part of what the filmmaker is considering as the first part in a trilogy, this takes place in the city of Zhili, which is dedicated to textile manufacturing. The young people come from all the rural regions crossed by the Yangtze River, attracted by the work opportunities. They are 20 years old, share dormitories and eat in the corridors. They work tirelessly to realize their dreams, such as starting a family, buying a house or setting up their own workshop. Friendships and love affairs are formed and unraveled through the seasons, bankruptcies and family pressures.
Current temp: It’s only day two and we have a film that will likely be among the top three best by the end of the fest. While only 8 of our 20 critics managed to find the three plus hours to screen the film, it is currently sitting at a 3.5 average and will likely remain this way when the other critics weigh in.
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