Er shi si cheng ji

In Chengdu, a rapidly changing metropolis in China, a former state-owned aircraft engine factory is being converted into a luxurious apartment complex. For the workers who once spent their lives here, this transformation means not only the loss of a job, but also the end of an era. Their stories, full of memories, hopes and disappointments, are the focus of a film that captures the profound upheavals in Chinese society. Jia Zhangke's 24 CITY combines documentary elements with fictional narratives, using interviews with real witnesses as well as actors such as Joan Chen and Zhao Tao to make the voices of three generations audible. The result is a poetic mosaic that powerfully captures the pain of loss and the yearning for a better life. The film premiered in competition at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the prestigious Palme d'Or. Critics praised 24 CITY for its sensitive portrayal of industrial change and innovative narrative structure. Jia Zhangke once again demonstrates his keen sense of the major issues facing modern Chinese society, creating a work that is both touching and thought-provoking.