Shanghai Below the High Rise
Simon James
Synopsis
Shanghai Below the High Rise is a cutting-edge documentary about Shanghai's 'underclass'; a group of millions made up of both impoverished local residents and migrant workers, who are all paying the ultimate price for the city's ongoing development programme in the lead-up to the 2010 World Expo.
In an attempt to get the stories of those worst affected, the film journeys into the city's poverty-stricken backstreets, uncovering a way of life that could very soon be gone from the city forever.
Among the many conflicts explored, we see a backstreet neighbourhood ravaged by an incomplete construction project; migrant workers forced into the city's 'hidden' economy; and former state employees left jobless, and with limited future prospects.
This is a Shanghai rarely seen in the West. This is a Shanghai from below the high rise.
Details
- Year
- 2009
- Type of film
- Shorts
- Running Time
- 52 mins
- Format
- DV
- Director
- Simon James 1st Feature
- Producer
- Lucy Lu
- Editor
- Simon James
- Screenwriter
- Simon James, Lucy Lu
- Director of Photography
- Simon James
- Sound
- Simon James
- Music
- Siddhartha Barnhoorn
Genre
Production status
Complete
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Last updated 3rd December 2009
