DVD Mini Review - Up the Yangtze

Yung Chang's documentary Up the Yangtze is a wonderful and beautifully shot film. It tells the story of a peasant family living in a small village who will soon be displaced. This is due to the construction of the Three Gorges Dam which will make the waters rise. Actually, about two million people have been displaced (we see some of the in the extras on the DVD). But the film focuses on the Yu family.

Daughter Shui would love to attend college and become a scientist. But that is out of the question as the family needs her to work. Since they have to move they will not be able to do the farming they were used to doing.

Shui begins a job working on a cruise ship that takes people around the area that will soon be taken over by the rising waters. Shui changes her name to Cindy in order to appeal to the many English speakers on the ship. We also meet Campbell, a young man who trains the new employees on the ship and Jerry, who considers himself a cut above Cindy and has a bit of a swagger.

You wonder why China did this to its people. But their record of caring for people is not a good one. I learned a lot from Up the Yangtze and recommend it to those of you who want to know what is going on in other parts of the world.