Manufactured Landscapes
It will change the way you see the world.
Edward Burtynsky is internationally acclaimed for his large-scale photographs of nature transformed by industry. Manufactured Landscapes—a stunning documentary by award winning director Jennifer Baichwal—follows Burtynsky to China, as he captures the effects of the country’s massive industrial revolution. This remarkable film leads us to meditate on human endeavour and its impact on the planet.
Member Reviews
Good. - Chitty
Much has been documented on this subject recently and one should keep in mind that this film is 4 years old and made by a photographer. I felt this film hits home and does a good job highlighting our consumerism, greed, and disposable lifestyle. If you saw Koyaanisqatsi and liked it you should like this. If you like this watch Koyaanisqatsi.Revelation -- of a sort. - eleanorm
Much as I understand some of the criticism about the quality of narration, I found this film completely engrossing because it gave me a totally different understanding of what "Made in China" on a label means. When I go to any of the large box stores such as Ikea, I have stood there totally amazed to look up at untold stacks of stuff, all stamped "China." The almost painful 8-minute opening shot, and the subsequent shot of the workers assembling in lines that were lost in the distance, said it all for me. So did the three gorges dam construction, and people painfully grubbing around in heaps of discarded materials -- discards from half a world away, from our world. There is such an enormity and anonomity in this that the little narration that was present was almost superfluouis. I look at labels and our discards quite differently now,Manipulated Lunarscapes - newdaysof
This is an interesting documentary primarily of China's manufacturing and industrial boom. The building of the three gorges dam is shown, massive factories where tens of thousands of labourers assemble electronic appliances, vast lunarscapes of coal, endless piles of e-waste and scrap metal, and the inimaginable hi-rise sprawl of Shanghai.
The scope and scale of industrialization of the Chinese landscape is frightening. The air, water and land pollution is staggering. Think of the industrialization of the US times ten compressed into a ten year period - that's China.
The film would have been much more improved had there been more narrative. Instead, many long minutes were filled with slow-pan shots without any kind of context or description. A picture is worth a thousand words, but more narrative would have added not detracted.
Member Reviews
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Good. - Chitty
Much has been documented on this subject recently and one should keep in mind that this film is 4 years old and made by a photographer. I felt this film hits home and does a good job highlighting our consumerism, greed, and disposable lifestyle. If you saw ...Revelation -- of a sort. - eleanorm
Much as I understand some of the criticism about the quality of narration, I found this film completely engrossing because it gave me a totally different understanding of what "Made in China" on a label means. When I go to any of the large box stores such ...Manipulated Lunarscapes - newdaysof
This is an interesting documentary primarily of China's manufacturing and industrial boom. The building of the three gorges dam is shown, massive factories where tens of thousands of labourers assemble electronic appliances, vast lunarscapes of coal, endless ...