Watch Yumen

Yumen is a captivating and unique documentary film directed by J.P. Sniadecki, Huang Xiang and Xu Ruotao in 2013. The film is set in Yumen, a desolate and rundown city in China's northwest province of Gansu. Yumen used to be a booming oil town during the 1980s, but as China's economy grew, the oil industry dwindled and the city became forgotten and abandoned. The filmmakers use Yumen's landscape as a stage to tell a story of decay using unconventional filmmaking techniques.

The documentary film takes us on a meditative journey through the empty streets and buildings of Yumen. The camera moves slowly and steadily, allowing us to take in the nothingness of the environment. We see the remnants of a once-busy city – abandoned factories, derelict buildings, rusted automobiles and empty roads. As we journey deeper into the city, we meet some of the inhabitants who remain there. These are a few characters who are left behind in a place waiting for something to happen.

The first character we meet is a middle-aged, unemployed man. He spends his days wandering aimlessly through the city, looking for something to do, something to keep him busy. He visits the former oil fields and collects scraps of metal, hoping to use them for a future project. As the story progresses, he shares his innermost thoughts and feelings, thereby giving us a glimpse into his life.

Another character we meet is a young woman who sells building materials in Yumen's local market. Her life is mundane and bleak, and she goes about her daily routine without much joy. She spends her days waiting for customers to come, but business is scarce. She spends her free time practicing her singing, hoping to make it big someday.

The third character is an old woman who performs Buddhist prayers by the roadside. She is a beggar, but not of money; she begs for peace and forgiveness. She tells the filmmakers that her husband died in a horrific car crash while they were travelling to see her son. This event traumatized her, and she has been living in Yumen ever since.

Despite having different personalities, these three characters have one thing in common – they are survivors. They are the few who remained behind in a place that most people have long forgotten.

The film's tone is melancholic and contemplative. The soundtrack is composed of ambient music that adds a sense of eeriness to the film. As we journey through the city and interact with the characters, we are reminded of the impermanence of things. Everything is temporary, and nothing lasts forever.

What makes Yumen unique is its unconventional approach to storytelling. The film uses non-linear storytelling techniques that jump from one character to another. The film also uses visual metaphors to convey specific feelings, such as a massive dinosaur structure erected in a playground. The dinosaur's immobility represents the city's sense of stasis, while its size suggests the unreachable goals of individuals.

In conclusion, Yumen is an excellent documentary film that uses the forgotten city of Yumen as a metaphor for the cycle of boom and bust that characterizes modern capitalism. The camera work and sound design are immersive, and the characters are compelling. If you are looking for something that is contemplative and unique, then Yumen is the film for you.