Watch Karamay Two

Karamay (Home Use) (Part Two) is a 2010 Chinese drama film directed by Xu Xin. The movie is a sequel to Xu Xin's earlier film Karamay which was a documentary about the Karamay fire tragedy that happened in 1994. The film takes its name from the city where the tragedy occurred. The film is divided into two parts, with the first part mostly consisting of footage from the earlier film. But the second part of the film focuses on the aftermath of the tragedy and its impact on the families of the victims.

The Karamay fire tragedy is a significant event in China's modern history. It occurred on December 8, 1994, in the city of Karamay, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. The incident happened at a theater where students were performing for their parents, teachers, and local officials. The building caught fire, and the audience was instructed to remain seated to allow officials to exit first. As a result, a total of 323 people, mostly children, died in the fire.

The film focuses on the stories of the families who lost their loved ones in the tragedy. The director visits them and interviews them, and their stories are relayed through the film. The director, Xu Xin, uses a unique visual style that involves minimal cuts and long takes, which creates a sense of continuity and realism.

The film also delves into the political situation at that time, including the footage of the government officials' response to the tragedy. It showcases how the government reacted to the event, the cover-up that followed, and how they tried to shift the blame onto others. The film also explains how the Chinese media portrayed the event and how the families were silenced with threats to not speak about it.

The audience gets to see the scale of the pain and suffering inflicted on the families of the victims. The tale of their loss is not just about the death of their loved ones; it's about the injustice surrounding the entire event. The filmmakers show how society forgot about them and how the Chinese government silenced them.

The film is very moving and powerful in its portrayal of the victims' families' grief and how they coped with the tragedy over the decades. The camera lingers with the families as they search for their loved ones' remains, hoping to find some solace in the fact that they have something real to mourn. The film also provides a glimpse of how the Chinese government is attempting to silence dissent and how they oppress those who question their authority.

In conclusion, Karamay (Home Use) (Part Two) is a powerful and moving film that provides insight into how a tragic event can affect people over years. It's not just about the number of lives lost, but about the struggle of the families to find closure, and how the government reacts to events that question their authority. It's a well-crafted film that's worth watching if you want to know more about this tragic event and the people affected by it.

Karamay Two is a 2010 documentary with a runtime of 2 hours and 52 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.5.