On May 11, the documentary film "Farewell to the Yangtze River" created and shot by Japanese director Ryo Takeuchi was officially announced to be released on May 24, and will hold film roadshows in many cities across the country starting from May 18. The film uses the Yangtze River as a clue, starting from the prosperous Shanghai, all the way up the river, spanning 6,300 kilometers of magnificent mountains and rivers, recording the people along the Yangtze River 10 years ago with a strong sense of life and true feelings that reach deep into their hearts. The changes in living conditions provide a panoramic view of the rapid development of Chinese society in the past ten years.
The Yangtze River is the mother river of the Chinese nation and the lifeblood of China's economic and social development. In recent years, with the rapid development of China's economy, the areas along the Yangtze River have also undergone earth-shaking changes. "Farewell to the Yangtze River" uses the Yangtze River as a mirror to record the great changes in this mother river in the past ten years. The film starts from the rolling river water on the Bund of Shanghai, and goes all the way west, passing through Nanjing, Wuhan, Chongqing and other cities, and finally reaches the Tuotuo River, the source of the Yangtze River. The Yangtze River captured through the lens includes not only the gorgeous scenery of mountains and rivers, but also the spectacular scene of row upon row of cities on both sides of the strait, as well as the figures of people struggling and tender stories.
Japanese director Ryo Takeuchi has shot many high-quality documentaries that show the rapid development of Chinese society and magnificent mountains and rivers. He was selected as one of the "100 Most Respected Japanese in the World" by Newsweek in 2021, and was nominated for the 12th China Documentary Academy Award. The filming of "Farewell to the Yangtze River" was a way for him to make up for his regret of not being able to capture "the first drop of water from the source of the Yangtze River" when filming a documentary related to the Yangtze River ten years ago.
When "Farewell to the Yangtze River" was released in Japan, many Japanese audiences were attracted by the film's new perspective on China's development and changes in the new era. At the same time, the film also attracted the attention of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian praising the film as " The exquisite filming reflects the tremendous changes in the area along the Yangtze River in the past ten years, and is a microcosm of China's economic and social development in the new era. The director and the protagonist use sincerity and kindness to bring a common touch to the audience across time, space, language and nation. "
In the final poster of "Farewell to the Yangtze River", in the endless Yangtze River, a cruise ship carries director Ryo Takeuchi and his long-cherished wish up the river. In front of him are mountains and peaks, and on both sides are cities surrounded by mountains and rivers. Villages and towns, while the distance symbolizing the source of the Yangtze River is hidden in the misty unknown. The whole poster has the artistic conception of green mountains and green waters, as well as the determination to win in life. In addition to the poster, the two exposed stills of the film also make people feel that the film captured the picturesque mountains and rivers of the Yangtze River Basin and the changes in people's livelihood during the filming process.
Text/Beijing Youth Daily reporter Xiao Yang
