The Land of Many Palaces

The Land of Many Palaces is a thought-provoking documentary that follows an unconventional effort to transform the age-old agricultural heart of China into a modern, urbanized land of opportunity. Released in 2015 and directed by the talented duo consisting of Adam James Smith and Song Ting, the film provides an intimate exploration of the far-reaching and multifaceted impacts of one of the largest urbanization projects in human history.

Set against the backdrop of Ordos, Inner Mongolia - a place touted by many as China's ghost city for its myriad of grandiose, uninhabited buildings, the story unveils the Chinese government's ambitious plans to relocate hundreds of millions of rural residents into newly built cities. Once known for its verdant pastures and herds of horses, Ordos now symbolises China's explosive economic growth and the extent to which the nation is willing to push forth its grand vision of urbanization.

At the center of the narrative, the filmmakers introduce us to two intriguing characters - a government official responsible for persuading farmers to abandon their land and a farmer who has moved to the city to try his hand at achieving the promised 'urban lifestyle.' Through their interactions and experiences, the film delves into the complex dynamics brought about by this colossal and often disorienting transformation of their world.

Our city guide, the government official named Candy, assumes the task of educating the incoming settlers about their new urban lives. The movie shows her giving orientation classes to the newcomers about several city-life aspects that might seem mundane to most urban dwellers, such as how to operate an elevator or how to flush a toilet. These classes, though seemingly trivial, underline the enormous gap that exists between the rural and urban lives in this rapidly changing society.

On the other side of the spectrum, we meet a farmer who has decided to abandon his roots and embrace the promise of a grand urban lifestyle. His initial experiences in the city are fraught with confusion, uncertainty, and even loneliness, giving us a glimpse of the emotional and social costs that this massive urban migration entails.

The cinematography presents a stark visual contrast that has come about as a result of this urbanization drive. On one hand, we see massive skyscrapers, opulent government buildings, theatrically designed landscapes, and a burgeoning cityscape; on the other hand, we also confront an empty city with an eerie calm, largely uninhabited plazas, and inhabitants still trying to comprehend and navigate their transformed surroundings.

Directors Adam Smith and Song Ting weave together these stories with thoughtful sensitivity, bringing forth the individual stories against the backdrop of an extraordinary societal change. They don’t tunnel vision into judgement or persuasion but rather put forth an observational gaze, refraining from assigning villain and hero labels and leading us to ponder on our own about the implications and potential consequences of such rapid urbanization and the consequent disruption of traditional lifestyles.

The Land of Many Palaces is not only a film about the largest human migration in history, but also a poignant exploration of the human struggle with identity, home, and progress. This is a film that weaves together the stories of ordinary people living in extraordinary times, capturing the spirit, turmoil, and aspirations of a nation undertaking a project of unprecedented scale.

A key element of the film's narrative is the disconnect between rural and urban lifestyles, and the tumultuous process of straddling these worlds. The city is billed as 'the land of many palaces,' but as the farmers struggle to adapt to high-rise living and as government officials strive to transform them into city dwellers, the story's emotional richness reveals itself in the complex tapestry of dreams, promises, expectations, and realities.

Overall, The Land of Many Palaces meticulously documents a momentous chapter of China's socio-economic transformation, offering viewers thoughtful insights into the human implications of urban development and progress. It’s equally a social and a psychological journey, a moving exploration of change, and a unique lens to view what could be the future of urbanization globally.