First Hit: This film isn’t so much about the 3 Gorges dam as it is about the affect of the dam on two teenage kids whose lives it changes.
This is a well crafted film by Chinese filmmaker Yung Chang about two young Chinese teenagers, their lives, and how the huge 3 Gorges dam project affected 2 – 4 million people. There are very view shots of the project itself and there are plenty of shots of markers on hill sides indicating the depth of the soon to be flooded valley.
Cindy Yu Shui is a quiet and shy 16 year old girl whose parents barely eke out a living. They grow their own food so they eat well and they live in a makeshift shanty near the water but neither parent can read or write, have any money, and cannot send their daughter to high school. Her parents decide to send her to work on a Yangtze cruise ship to earn money for the family and for possibly school later.
The other boy is Jerry Chen Bo Yu and he is from a middle class family and thinks very highly of himself. He is arrogant and sees himself as something really special. He hires on to the same boat to make some money and connections.
They both have to learn some English and also receive their English names (Cindy and Jerry) by which they will be referred to while on the boat. The dishwashing work given to Cindy is overwhelming and she breaks down in tears. There is a scene where the boat docks in her hometown and her parents come on board to visit her. It is clear she is happy to see them and embarrassed as well.
Jerry on the other hand, after receiving a $30.00 tip, thinks he’s got the whole world in his hand and begins to angle on how to make more.
This is a soft reflective film which takes it time to share this story and it is nicely done. There are very interesting and powerful scenes a couple of which are: Jerry being fired from the cruise ship because he is arrogant, isn’t a team player, and sees himself as better than everyone else.
The Yangtze River rising up and covering Cindy’s family home.
Cindy going out with her one close friends from the ship and having makeup applied for the first time.
Overall: This is a wonderful film and it brings a real humanness on the impact of this huge construction project on the people who have lived near this river all their lives.