Youth (Hard Times)

In his monumental new documentary, acclaimed director Wang Bing returns to the world of China’s garment workers, capturing the lives of those who power the country’s shifting economy from behind the scenes. Winner of two awards at the 2024 Locarno Film Festival and featured on numerous international critics' best-of-the-year lists, the film showcases Wang’s signature patient and observant style as he follows young factory workers through their daily routines, private struggles, and fleeting moments of connection. Amid quiet dreams of a better future, bursts of anger, and tender glimpses of love, a powerful portrait emerges—of a world largely invisible to the rest of humanity. Moving from the dense chaos of the city to the wide, green expanses of the countryside, the film invites us on a journey that leaves us seeing everything a little differently.