Abstract:

This acclaimed documentary -- from the classic three-part "Cities in China Series" -- conveys the texture and flavor of the venerable Chinese capital through a close-up look at a number of its inhabitants, both young and old, with varied and fascinating backgrounds. Their stories unfold against the backdrop of a timeless but rapidly changing metropolis. The gold and vermilion roofs of the Forbidden Palace, recalling the splendor of the imperial past, still dominate the center of the city, but highrise apartment buildings are encroaching upon traditional single-story neighborhoods and are dramatically changing the skyline. Highlights include a backstage tour of the Peking Opera, a family reunion of four generations previously dispersed to far-flung outposts, and an interview with the brother of China's last emperor.