Part objective documentary, part personal essay, Concrete Revolution charts the transformation of Beijing. In order to present a modern glossy face to the world, one where shiny new buildings and icons of western consumerism are rapidly built and pushed to the foreground, the Chinese Government prefers to hide the hardship of the people constructing the new image, and that of the disappearing world of its culture-carrying elders.

Electing to focus beneath the facade, this intelligent and important work bravely exposes the unseen changes in values and the social cost being payed, especially those of the peasant construction workers of the new China. Told through the contrast of individuals' stories with elements of retrospective context, the film functions as a feminine poem on a macho subject using a clever mix of colour and black & white film, stills, snippets of media newsflash and even quotes and songs from Maoist China.

Novelist, filmmaker Xiaolu’s works touch universal themes (time & place, love & loss) appealing to many worlds. Her previous films won The ICA Becks Future Prize 2003 and Best Screenwriting Award at 1999 Chinese National Film Awards.

LEARN MORE:

Visit the filmmaker Xiaolu Guo's website to learn more about the film.
Check out the BBC's In-Depth section - Changing China.