[Recover]
After the serious outbreak of coronavirus, Changchun, a city in North-eastern China, has started to recover from the sorrow. There is no confirmed infection case at the current stage, so people no longer have to stay at home for self-quarantine. Thus, groups of young people, who are considered as the leader of the pop trend in North-eastern China, begin to go on the street to seek pleasure.
The documentary was shot in a popular multi-functional shopping mall that opened in the center of the city. Several camera shots were taken as a true reflection of people’s daily lives in this period after the coronavirus outbreak. People are walking on the street with their surgery masks on. Some of them are quite aware, however, others seem to be less aware of the condition. Most of these young people are wearing fashionable clothing, most featured in black, white, red, and golden colors. They hang out with their friends in stores and restaurants.
However, the documentary question this scene. Is it true recovery? It is interesting how North-eastern China, or Dongbei, has developed from an agricultural and industrial district to the current stage. When the rural culture of this vast land meets with industrialization and modernization, a culture that is different from any other appeared in this region. After the nationwide spread of “Hong Kong-style” in the seventies, the aesthetic of Dong Bei People was largely effected and continue to evolve.
This kind of aesthetic is rooted in Dongbei people’s pop culture, especially among young people. Nowadays it is very common to see these kinds of images on the internet, especially on short video platforms like Kuaishou and Tik Tok. The overall impression of young people in Dongbei seems to be dispirited and deteriorated. This further influences how this group of young people reacts to the pop trend in their daily lives.
Thus, it seems that there is never a true recovery. Local people are still stuck in their past and cannot find a way out. New things happen every day and one trend is replaced by the other. However, all of the things considered “new” here are still the mirror image of the past. There is no recovery at the present.
Main camera shots are using framing techniques. This gives the viewer a feeling that they are peeping at the life of these young people. This kind of third-person view deepens the sense of sorrow and helplessness in the whole documentary. Some shots are taken on a strange angle or not exactly on the subject. This helps to increase the boundary between our daily life and the narration.
The documentary use heartbeat to imply the theme of the documentary. The endless and gradual quickening heartbeat is working as an indication of the transformation between the two parts of the documentary. The whole video mainly consists of four colors, red, blue, purple, and black. The color tone suggests the popular trend in the Dongbei region, giving a strong feeling of depression and sorrow. The overall mood is distracting but also full of hope, corresponding with the theme of recovery.
Name: Lu Sihan
UID: 3035533056
The theme of recovery and the reflection in your writing falls short in your film. While you alluded to themes of the past versus the present, of hope, etc., more evidence of research and references is needed.
The visuals can be better curated through narration. Each scene needs to be more intentional about leading your audience to your question of recovery, beyond documenting current streetscapes. Appreciate the different framing techniques, but some of them can be more consistent in camera angle and perspective. Why was it important to frame your scenes from the point of view of an observer ‘peeping’ into people’s lives?
Overall, understanding the cultural background of North-eastern China aesthetic is interesting, but has more potential to make this relationship with your topic more relevant.